http://www.talkingfood.de/presse/presseschau/TITEL-Vogelgrippe:%20Geringes%20Infektionsrisiko%20durch%20Muscheln%20und%20Fische,3180.html
“Bird flu: Small infection risk by shells and fish”
Caution for the sake of shells and fish well through-heated up – thus
the bird flu virus is killed surely
The risk to infect itself over contaminated shells or fish with the
bird flu virus classifies experts as small. To this estimate come
Bundesinstitut for risk evaluation (BfR), Friedrich Loeffler
institute (FLI) and the federal research institute for nutrition and
food (BFEL) in a common statement. An infection with the H5N1-Virus
over food was so far not proven. Since the infection risk can be
excluded however not completely, the institutes advise against at
present the consumption of raw shells and raw fish from harvesting
and catch regions, in which the bird flu virus was proven.
The consideration of the institutes: The bird flu virus H5N1 can to
be spread over the excrement of infected birds and therefore be able
also surface waters and lakes high concentrations of the virus
exhibit. Fish and shells could be contaminated over the infected
excrement in the water, which was not examined however so far yet.
Also that shells and fish transfer Influenza A viruses was so far not
documented.
It admits is that the bird flu virus reacts very sensitively to
environmental influences: The more highly the salzgehalt and the more
warmly the water temperatures, the less strongly infectious works the
virus. Since the infection risk can be excluded however not
completely, the institutes shells and fish recommend to heat at least
ten minutes up on 70 degrees Celsius. The virus is killed surely
thereby.
Source: Common statement No. 018/2006 of the BfR, the Friedrich
Loeffler institute and the federal research institute for nutrition
and food from 14 March 2006