Linking coronavirus to poultry unscientific: Maha minister

Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Minister Sunil Kedar on Wednesday clarified that there is no threat of contracting the novel coronavirus from consuming poultry products. Claims that a person can catch the coronavirus (Covid-19) from eating chicken or other poultry products are unscientific and baseless, he added.

"Farmers involved in poultry production are severely affected because of rumours that the coronavirus spreads through poultry," Kedar said. Strict action will be taken against those spreading such false information, the minister warned.

A man in Andhra Pradesh and another person from Uttar Pradesh have been arrested for spreading false information related to the infection, Kedar said, adding authorities are tracking down rumour-mongers and they will be dealt with strictly. Prices of poultry products have crashed following misinformation on social media that eating chicken or other meat can spread the coronavirus.

Earlier this month, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had asserted that there is no scientific evidence to show that the coronavirus spreads through eating chicken, mutton and seafood..