THRISSUR: Experts attached to College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, say that there is a very little chance of Coronavirus getting transferred to human being from bovines.

They say that one need not be scared of eating beef or other meats. “The strains of Coronavirus found now in human beings have never been reported to have spread from bovines to human beings,” university vice-chancellor M R Saseendranath says.

“The early reports that snakes are the source of the disease are wrong while, actually, the disease virus spreads to human beings from bats. Therefore, people who eat the meat of animals hunted from forests are likely to contract the disease. And, the chances of contracting the disease by eating chicken, beef, mutton and duck meat are very less,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Saseendranath reminds people that all meat items should be cooked properly.

“Currently, studies are being conducted on two kinds of Coronaviruses – Bovine virus and Avian virus. And, this is to protect bovines from the virus. However, no studies of the virus found in human beings have been held in India since it is showing up for the first time in the country,” he explains.