H5N1 Confirmed in Processed Meat in Poland
Recombinomics Commentary
December 2, 2007
In the Pomorze region 480 kg of turkey meat has been found to contain the bird flu virus.
Anna Obuchowska, spokeswoman for the Sanitary Inspectorate in the Pomorze region, has stated that the meat came from two warehouses, in Żukow and Sierakowice.
The Żukow plant supplied meat to shops in Gdańsk and Gdynia, with the Sierakowice source providing shops in Człuchów, Chojnice, Kościerzyna and Kartuzy.
The detection of H5N1 in processed turkey meat is cause for concern. The above locations are throughout central and northern Poland. Local media indicates meat has already been distributed to consumers, including those at restaurants and in many instances has already been consumed. Although cooking does kill the virus, contamination of cutting surfaces and cooking utensils would be a concern, as would hand to mouth transmission.
H5N1 within a residence or restaurant greatly increases the likelihood of transmission. The vast majority of human-to-human transmissions reported to date involve family members because once H5N1 has moved into the home, the likelihood of direct contract increases greatly.
More detail on the above distributions and detection of H5N1 in Poland would be useful.
Media Links
Recombinomics Presentations
Recombinomics Publications
Recombinomics Paper at Nature Precedings