‘Coronavirus doesn’t spread from non-veg food’

THRISSUR: Possibilities of transmission of coronavirus from farm animals to humans are limited and there is no need for undue fear when consuming nonvegetarian food, assures experts at the veterinary university.
Prof M R Saseendranath, vice-chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), said that so far there was no report of transmission of this strain of coronavirus from farm animals to humans.
“The Chinese had initially suspected that the virus was transmitted from snakes to humans, because snakes are consumed there. However, latest studies have identified that the source of this strain of virus as bats,” the VC said.
So, there may be possibilities of virus transmission from animals to humans among those venturing into forests to hunt and eat wild animals. But, meat like mutton, chicken, duck, and beef are safe for consumption. Of course, the meat must be cooked well, said Saseendranth.
He said studies are going on at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, on bovine coronavirus and avian coronavirus. “These studies aim to evolve treatment methods for diarrhoea among calves and infection of bronchitis among poultry. However, the strain of coronavirus currently infecting people is different, and it has not been studied in India so far because it has not appeared here,” he said.