Coronavirus scare: Doctors dispel fears over meat-eating

Hyderabad: As number of deaths due to coronavirus in China and other countries continues to mount, various kinds of genuine and fake information flooded the social media.

Besides, many people with doubtful education background started educating people on social media about dos and don'ts so that they can prevent from becoming the victim of the deadly virus.

One such advice is to stay away from the consumption of non-vegetarian food and even eggs. However, doctors from the city have clarified that nCoV and meat consumption are not related nor there is any scientific study to prove it.

Dr V V Ramana Prasad, a senior pulmonologist from the city pointed out that there are no instructions from WHO as far as meat consumption is concerned.

The concerns being heard or spread in the form of rumours are not valid, he said.

Dr Prasad made mention of reports that doubted that this virus might have come from snakes or bats, but not yet confirmed so far.

Government Chest Hospital superintendent Dr Mehboob Khan echoed similar views. He said that there is no proven link between non-vegetarian food and incidence of nCoV.

Further, we Indians cook any kind of non-vegetarian food at a high temperature which makes it very safe for consumption, Dr Mehboob Khan pointed out.

He explained that at the time of bird flu outbreak, it is advised not to eat chicken as the birds are affected with it.

It may be noted the non-vegetarian diet in India primarily restricted to mutton (lamb meat), chicken, fish and other seafood unlike in China where the non-veg food habits of people consist of a big list of every other freaking animal.