This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--=_NextPart_000_0014_01C640A9.CD6273F0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
The assumption that migratory birds are spreading the H5N1 virus is the =
conventional wisdom, but far from proven. Other mechanisms are more =
likely, including:
=20
- Regional and international trade in live poultry
- Export of fertilizer and feed containing poultry manure and =
body parts
- Trade in caged birds
=20
International trade in live poultry (mature birds, day-old hatchlings, =
and hatching eggs) is mind-boggling in its magnitude. And the poultry =
industry has solved its manure problem by selling it for fertilizer, =
which is distributed internationally and spread on agricultural fields =
and fish farms and ponds. Manure and body parts are even mixed into =
poultry feed (reminds one of mad cow disease).
=20
I first learned of this stuff a couple of days ago from a German =
ornithologists' e-mail list that I monitor. One German ornithologist, =
recently returned from consultations with Asian ornithologists, is =
convinced that the virus is not being spread by wild birds. He points =
out that countries that have strict poultry import regulations, such as =
South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Australia, have had no outbreaks of =
bird flu even though large numbers of birds migrate there from countries =
with outbreaks. For example, more than a million waterfowl from China =
and Siberia overwinter in South Korea. Furthermore, with the exception =
of one outbreak in China, the pattern of outbreaks does not correspond =
to patterns of bird migration.
=20
It is thought that a highly pathogenic virus is much better suited for =
survival in mass poultry factories than among wild birds. In the wild, =
it is likely that the infected birds die quickly without traveling great =
distances, and the virus then dies out also.
=20
The statement of Bird Life International at =
http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/avian_flu/index.html =
makes these same points, although it begins by stating that migratory =
birds can transport the virus over long distances. Be sure to read all =
the way to the end, however, where four possible scenarios for =
transmission of H5N1 by migratory birds are described. The conclusion =
is that most of the observed outbreaks have other causes.
=20
Julian Sellers
- Original Message -=20
From: Peder Svingen=20
To: MOU-net=20
Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: [mou] bird flu, birds and birders
The Ornithological Societies of North America home page provides a =
Fact Sheet and links to sites with information on Avian Influenza at
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/OC/avianinfluenza.html
--
Peder H. Svingen
Duluth, MN
Begin forwarded message:
From: blueb...@surfbest.net
Date: March 4, 2006 1:06:00 PM CST
To: mou-...@cbs.umn.edu, mnb...@lists.mnbird.net
Cc: jharin...@hotmail.com, ccerh...@hotmail.com, =
posel1...@comcast.net
Subject: [mou] bird flu, birds and birders
This summer, on the arctic breeding areas where Asian species mingle
with American birds, more American birds will certainly become
infected with, and spread, the avian flu that is has made its way to
much of the other hemisphere, and has already been noted here.
While much of the information in the media focuses on the flu and =
its
anticipated mutation making it highly infectuous to humans, I have
been wondering about its effects on birds and birders.
In any population of wild birds, what percent will be infected, and
what percent of these will die? Will we be seeing (or are we already
seeing) decreases in the populations of birds because of this flu. =
Is
the magnitude known or been the subject of learned speculation? Will
some infected birds recover without obvious ill effects?
Is it like West Nile in that some species seem to be more =
susceptible
than others (if this is really true for West Nile)?
Will eagles, hawks, gulls and vultures that consume dead and dying
birds experience significant population drops because of this virus?
It is said to be transmissible in humans by the consumption of dead
birds. On the other hand, I have read that cooking the meat kills =
the
virus.
Do the federal or state agencies have any plans in place to remove
obvious concentrations of infected birds? What should lay people do
who observe dead and dying birds, whether in large concentrations of
small groups?
Will waterfowl and upland game hunters and researchers be infected =
by
handling and eating infected birds? Is there any way to tell if a
bird is infectuous, or do the birds die rapidly after the virus is
active (it seems apparent that this is not true, based on the global
spread of the organism by migrating
