Dealing with Bird Flu: Do's and don'ts

The danger is greater if human beings inhale the infected material or come into contact with bird droppings.

The WHO warns that the consumption of raw poultry, eggs, pork may spark an "additional" risk of other dangerous infections.

Practice of thorough hand washing after handling birds or their droppings, suspect the occurrence of bird flu if the birds have ruffled feather or there is slowing down in laying of the eggs, according to the literature on bird flu available on WHO website.

The UN health agency also advices people not to go to poultry farms and markets where birds are sold when there is an outbreak of the epidemic. As the bird flu virus can survive for long periods at freezing temperatures, it is advisable to avoid frozen food, the WHO said.