FACT CHECK | The bird flu virus does not „feed“ on poultry in the human body

False claims about the bird flu virus are spreading on social media. Calls are being made to stop eating poultry and eggs because „if you have poultry in your system, this virus will start feeding on the poultry in you and get stronger.“ This claim is pseudoscientific. Viruses replicate in host cells, not „eat“ proteins from food.„DON’T EAT CHICKEN THIS YEAR. Why? There is an aggressive strain of bird flu circulating right now, many times more aggressive than previous strains. If you don’t want this bird flu to develop into a virus that will destroy people just like it did birds, it’s a good idea to avoid eating poultry (chicken, duck, turkey, quail, etc.). The point is not about eating meat infected with the virus, but that the bird flu that is circulating feeds on poultry. If you have poultry in your system, this virus will start feeding on the poultry in you and will get stronger and spread. If you eat chicken on Monday, it will not be gone from your body by Wednesday. The fat and proteins in the chicken will go into your cells, tissues, and organs and can stay there for months. Bird flu will go looking for these fats and proteins,“ user Maarja Urb wrote on Facebook on March 2.Another similar post appeared in the 6300-member closed Facebook group „Medicine Medium Estonian Book Club“ on February 18. Laansalu’s post is a translation of Anthony William’s, or Medicine Medium’s, podcast „Bird Flu: Stop Eating Chicken.“Anthony William is a notorious US disseminator of pseudoscientific medical information. In 2003, he founded the website „Medical Medium,“ which publishes pseudoscientific medical and health advice. William does not have any medical degrees.William’s advice is supposedly based on his communication with some kind of spirit. William claims to be a „medium“ and that he was born with „the unique ability to converse with the Spirit of Compassion, who gives him exceptionally advanced healing medical information that is ahead of its time.“ Facts According to the Agricultural and Food Board (PTA) and the Health Board, the call to stop eating poultry and eggs is not scientifically justified.Viruses multiply in host cells, not „eat“ proteins from food. The Medical Medium’s claims are pseudoscientific and untrue.The greatest risk to humans is direct contact with infected birds or their secretions, not eating poultry.Eating poultry products, i.e., meat and eggs, sold in Estonia and the European Union is safe.The claim that the bird flu virus „strengthens, feeds, or spreads“ through poultry in the human body is false.According to Olga Sadikova, Chief Specialist of the Influenza Center of the Health Board, this claim is not based on scientific evidence.„The bird flu virus does not ’feed’ on poultry in the human body, because this is not the mechanism of action of viruses. Viruses multiply in host cells, not „eat“ proteins obtained from food,“ Sadikova explained to Faktikontroll.Sadikova outlined evidence-based facts about bird flu and poultry: Bird flu is not spread through food if meat and eggs are properly cooked. Foodborne infection is not a confirmed risk. The greatest risk to humans is direct contact with infected birds or their secretions, not eating poultry. The risk of a new pandemic does not arise from people’s food preferences, but mainly from the mutation of the virus and the possibility of spreading from person to person.The World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other international health organizations have not issued any recommendations to avoid eating poultry or eggs due to bird flu.According to the Health Board, human infection with the bird flu virus is very rare. The infection can be spread through close contact with sick poultry or animals and through contact with contaminated environments.„It is definitely not worth eating uncooked meat or eggs from both domestic and wild birds. Poultry meat must be heated to at least 74 degrees Celsius before consumption, or the internal temperature of the meat, and bird eggs should also be properly cooked. Cooking not only helps against bird flu, but also other diseases, such as salmonellosis,“ said Sadikova.The WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are concerned about the wider spread of bird flu. As the spread of the virus intensifies, the risk of transmission from birds to humans also increases. This is because if the bird flu virus enters the body of a person suffering from seasonal flu, the viruses can combine, which can result in the formation of a new, highly pathogenic virus.According to Kärt Jaarma, Chief Specialist of the Animal Health and Welfare Department of the Agricultural and Food Board (PTA), the call to stop eating poultry meat and eggs is not justified. The PTA confirmed to Faktikontroll that eating poultry products, i.e., meat and eggs, sold in the European Union, including Estonia, is safe.Verdict: False. The Medical Medium’s claims are pseudoscientific and untrue. The bird flu virus does not „feed“ on poultry in the human body. The viruses multiply in host cells, rather than absorbing proteins from food. Poultry products sold in Estonia and the European Union are safe to consume. The main risk is direct contact with infected birds or their secretions, not eating poultry.Kärt Jaarma, Chief Specialist of the Animal Health and Welfare Department of PTA Highly pathogenic avian influenza is still mainly a disease of birds, which does not spread easily to other animals or humans. People who have been infected with avian influenza have had very close contact with infected birds or animals.The European Union has very strict veterinary measures in place. These aim to prevent the spread of the virus from wild birds to domestic poultry and to control outbreaks in domestic poultry.Temporary protection and surveillance zones are established around outbreaks in poultry. In these zones, the movement of live animals is restricted, poultry is kept indoors and closely monitored, and strict disinfection measures are applied. In the event of an outbreak, all birds on the farm are killed and destroyed. Poultry meat and eggs produced on these farms are also destroyed, meaning very specific measures are in place to prevent products from infected birds from entering the food chain.The risk of humans becoming infected with avian influenza through live animals or animal products, such as poultry meat or eggs, is very low. Therefore, there is no need to change eating habits.Poultry products sold in the European Union, including Estonia, are safe to eat. This is because strict food safety and veterinary measures have been put in place to prevent meat or eggs from sick animals from entering the food chain. Trade in protection and surveillance zones in the European Union where infected birds have been found is only allowed after very strict veterinary checks. Imports from third countries where avian influenza has been detected are prohibited. Even in the very unlikely event that the avian influenza virus is present in meat or eggs sold in the European Union, thorough cooking will kill the virus. So, properly cooked meat and boiled or fried eggs do not pose a risk.