DOH: Cook poultry products thoroughly

Department of Health (DOH) spokesman Eric Tayag advised the public on Monday to make sure chicken and other poultry products are properly cooked amid fears due to avian influenza outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga. “Iluto po natin ng maigi, kasama na dyan yung itlog. Kailangan hard-boiled po, hindi po muna pwede kumain ng hilaw na itlog or ang pagkaluto nito ay wet and runny (Cook it well done, including the egg. It needs to be hardboiled, avoid eating uncooked eggs or those with wet and runny yolks),” Tayag told reporters on the sidelines of the DOH’s budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations.

“Ang manok naman po masasabing lutong-luto yan kung wala nang pink parts at kung yung kanyang katas ay clear (A chicken is considered thoroughly cooked when there are no pink parts and its juices are clear),” he explained.

Tayag underscored that so far, there has been no reported birdto-human infection in the Philippines.

Tayag said the slump in the sales of dressed chicken in markets can be attributed to wrong information regarding avian influenza or bird flu.