Other diseases caused by birds and eggs  

New Delhi: If you eat properly cooked meat and eggs not only bird flu but many other diseases can be prevented. Apart from H5N1 bird flu other diseases caused by uncooked or partially cooked eggs and chickens are Salmonella and Campylobacter infections, said Dr. KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India and Hony. Finance Secretary, Indian Medical Association.  

SALMONELLA which also causes typhoid can cause bloody diarrhea in humans. The risk of infection is greater in the summer than winter, and children, the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals are most at risk for serious complications. People become infected by eating contaminated foods, usually ground beef, eggs, improperly pasteurized dairy products, undercooked pork and, increasingly, poultry products, broiler chickens. Prevention involve not to eat raw eggs or anything containing raw eggs (even cookie dough) and to make sure all meat is cooked thoroughly.  

CAMPYLOBACTER  is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness. 0.5 percent of the population, are thought to be infected each year. The organism can cause diarrhea (including bloody diarrhea), cramping, abdominal pain and fever as well as nausea and vomiting. Infected persons may develop arthritis or Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune disease which can lead to paralysis.   Campylobacter tends to strike in single, sporadic cases rather than large outbreaks. Most cases are associated with handling raw poultry or eating raw or undercooked poultry meat.  

E. COLI 0157:H7: Most human infections result from eating uncooked ground beef.  It can also be acquired from consuming contaminated dairy products, vegetables, unpasteurized juice, person-to-person contact, and swimming in or drinking water contaminated with sewage. The bacteria also lives in deer, goats and sheep and is a permanent resident of many petting zoos. Infection with E. coli 0157:H7 can result in bloody diarrhea lasting two to eight days and sometimes even kidney failure. There are ways to prevent transmission of the bacteria, namely good food hygiene.  

Hepatitis A is a virus that causes illness characterized by sudden onset of fever, malaise, nausea, anorexia, and abdominal discomfort, followed in several days by jaundice. Cold cuts and sandwiches, fruits and fruit juices, milk and milk products, vegetables, salads, shellfish, and iced drinks are commonly implicated in outbreaks, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Water, shellfish, and salads are the most frequent sources. Infected workers in food processing plants and restaurants are a common source of the food contamination as well.