Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key study I-CHK-136 in-depth review
WHO: bird flu comes from contact with infected birds, not from properly cooked chicken
WHO fact sheet: Influenza (avian and other zoonotic) (21 January 2026)
Overview
World Health Organization. WHO fact sheet 2026
WHO says infection comes from contact with live or dead infected birds and home slaughter; there is no evidence of spread through properly cooked poultry.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
How do humans become infected with avian influenza and how is it prevented?
- How was the study done?
Agency fact sheet
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
not applicable
- What was actually found?
Primary risk factor 'appears to be exposure to live or dead infected animals or contaminated environments, such as live bird markets. Handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing infected poultry for consumption, especially in household settings, are also risk factors.' 'There is no evidence to suggest that A(H5), A(H7N9) or other avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared and cooked poultry or eggs.' Advice: cook animal products properly; do not eat animals that died unexpectedly; avoid live poultry markets in affected areas.
- How large was the observed effect?
Primary risk factor 'appears to be exposure to live or dead infected animals or contaminated environments, such as live bird markets. Handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing infected poultry for consumption, especially in household settings, are also risk factors.' 'There is no evidence to suggest that A(H5), A(H7N9) or other avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared and cooked poultry or eggs.' Advice: cook animal products properly; do not eat animals that died unexpectedly; avoid live poultry markets in affected areas.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Avoid touching sick or dead birds; cooked chicken is not a bird-flu risk.
- What are the study's limitations?
Fact sheet
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports the zoonosis part; limits any inference to eating chicken.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Global.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not quantitative.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- World Health Organization
- Journal
- WHO fact sheet
- Year
- 2026
- Identifier
- Verification
- verified – Page fetched (curl) 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- full text
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
How do humans become infected with avian influenza and how is it prevented?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Guideline / position statement – Agency fact sheet
- Population
General population
- Country
global
- Period
2026
- Sample size
not applicable
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
as described in the abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Exposure to infected live or dead poultry; food
- Comparator
not applicable
- Endpoints
Risk factors, prevention
- Statistical methods
as reported in the abstract
5. Actual results
- Results
Primary risk factor 'appears to be exposure to live or dead infected animals or contaminated environments, such as live bird markets. Handling carcasses of infected poultry, and preparing infected poultry for consumption, especially in household settings, are also risk factors.' 'There is no evidence to suggest that A(H5), A(H7N9) or other avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared and cooked poultry or eggs.' Advice: cook animal products properly; do not eat animals that died unexpectedly; avoid live poultry markets in affected areas.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Food safety habits and avoiding contact with sick/dead birds prevent infection.
6. Strengths
- Authoritative, current (2026)
7. Weaknesses
- Fact sheet
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Agency statement.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Current WHO position separating live-bird exposure from eating cooked poultry.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
13. Overall methodological judgement
WHO says infection comes from contact with live or dead infected birds and home slaughter; there is no evidence of spread through properly cooked poultry.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- Poultry production is a source of zoonotic avian influenza and respiratory risks for people (H7N9 from wet-market poultry; pneumonia near poultry farms). – Studies with mixed or unclear results