New Delhi: Despite the country being clear of bird flu and Government declaring chicken and eggs safe, the panic has resulted in many people avoiding their favoured dish and preferring fish and mutton, an expert said today (Feb 12, 2004).

"These rumours are depriving the people of this very potent and cheap source of proteins and also affecting the farmers engaged in this job," Dr M Rath, former deputy commissioner (poultry) said.

"There has not been any confirmation of human-to-human transmission of Avian Influenza (bird flu), but still, 'vested interest groups' have successfully motivated the consumer to isolate the poultry by creating fear and negatively affecting the poultry industry," Rath said.

Arup Sinha, a manger in a private company, said that of late he had been avoiding chicken and eggs. Many of his friends are also being "cautious" on the matter, he said.

There is no proof that the eating chicken or eggs can cause disease. If there is any risk, it is for people who handle poultry, Prof Anoop Misra from the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Department of Medicine said.

However, studies so far have suggested that the virus can remain alive for fairly long periods when frozen, Misra said.

The virus is known to get destroyed by cooking because of excessive heat, he said.