citiesUpdated: Feb 20, 2020 21:18 ISTPUNE With rumours doing the rounds that coronavirus (Covid-19) spreads through consumption of chicken, eggs and other livestock products officials of the animal husbandry department and National Institute of Virology (NIV) clarified that Covid-19 does not spread through consumption of poultry products. BN Tandale, scientist, NIV and Sachindra Pratap, commissioner, animal husbandry department and doctors of Sassoon General Hospital held a press conference in the city on Thursday where they said action will be taken against culprits who are spreading rumours on social media. Tandale said, “Coronavirus does not spread through consumption of poultry products.”“NIV is coordinating all over India for coronavirus and conducting tests. We have erected testing facilities at 15 locations and have taken 2,658 specimens as on Thursday. Pedgaonkar said, “The maximum loss is faced in southern states where consumption of poultry products is high.”At least 12 per cent of farmers in the country are dependent on the poultry industry as they are producing soya bean and maize which is maximum consumed by the poultry industry, he added.

Source: Hindustan Times February 20, 2020 15:49 UTC