The Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department has issued a Circular on 11.3 2020 in pursuance of letter no.Q-11/1/2020-NLM-DADF received from the Joint Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, as follows :

It has come to the notice of this Department that messages are spreading through the social, print and electronic media stating that consumption of eggs and chicken meat may spread corona virus infection to human beings. This kind of messages has created panic amongst the poultry farmers, industries and consumers. Because of this misleading information, the sale of eggs and chicken meat has drastically suffered and millions of poor farmers dependent on poultry farming are under threat of losing their livelihood.

Besides the poultry farmers, there are millions of maize and soya farmers as well as medicine and vaccine manufacturers who are also indirectly involved with the poultry sector. Hence, any kind of panic related to poultry products consumption will adversely affect livelihood of millions of people, and consumers will also be deprived of a good and cheap source of protein.

The Department of Animal Husbandry is continuously keeping vigil on the corona virus situation in the world and in the country. So far, it has been noticed that the predominant route of of transmission of Novel Corona Virus (2019-nCov) appears to be human interaction. The virus is transmitted through human to human as per World Animal Health Organisation (IOE), although 2019-nCov might have animal source too. Poultry has not been found to be involved in transmission of corona virus to humans so far in any report globally. Similar virus outbreaks of corona virus in the past (SARS 2002-03, MERS 2012-13) or corona associated common cold had no involvement of poultry and poultry products the world over. Thus, the consumption of Indian poultry and poultry products, including eggs, is safe. A general hygiene, however, may be followed.

All the states are requested to make the people aware in this regard and spread this message to build confidence among the consumers abd farmers.