Migratory birds do not cause bird flu: experts nov17th

Antaletriangle · 11-17-2008, 01:29 AM

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...rd-flu-experts

KARACHI - Migratory birds cannot be declared responsible for the outbreak of bird flue in any part of the world, including Pakistan, as recent foreign scientific studies revealed that there is no solid evidence which show correlation between migratory birds and bird flue in any part of the world.

The FAO collected samples from 300,000 to 350,000 wild birds across the world. None of these were found H5N1 positive. After a comprehensive critical review of recent scientific literature it has been concluded that poultry trade, rather bird migration, is the main mechanism of global dispersal of the virus. Talking to The Nation, wildlife expert and Coordinator Natural Resources Management Rabnawaz on Sunday said that such migratory birds (more than 150 bird species) come from Russia and Africa during November and December, and return in February and March.

“After the last outbreak of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza and the subsequent allegations that migratory birds are responsible for the spread of the disease to local poultry farms, WWF Pakistan showed its concerns that such statements could have serious repercussions against wild birds population and their habitats. Such statements may prompt mass culling of wild birds and seriously endanger the efforts of conservation organisations and relevant government departments. Since the last outbreak in Sindh, WWF Pakistan has been in close contact with Bird Life International, the world’s authority on birds, which has already carried out significant research and literature review on the role of wild birds, including migratory species in the spread of HPAI H5N1.”

“I would like to highlight some of the scientific facts that though there is some evidence to back the case that migratory wild-birds can spread the H5N1 virus, they are not the main source of the virus spread. Sampling of 5,000 water birds after the outbreak in Nigeria during 2006 found no traces of the virus (AIWEB website). Mapping of the outbreaks across the world have shown that they follow trade routes of poultry rather than migratory flyway of wild birds. After a critical review of recent scientific literature it has been concluded that poultry trade, rather than bird migration, is the main mechanism of global dispersal of the virus,” he added.

cont.on link above.

11-17-2008, 01:29 AM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Migratory birds do not cause bird flu: experts nov17th http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...rd-flu-experts KARACHI - Migratory birds cannot be declared responsible for the outbreak of bird flue in any part of the world, including Pakistan, as recent foreign scientific studies revealed that there is no solid evidence which show correlation between migratory birds and bird flue in any part of the world. The FAO collected samples from 300,000 to 350,000 wild birds across the world. None of these were found H5N1 positive. After a comprehensive critical review of recent scientific literature it has been concluded that poultry trade, rather bird migration, is the main mechanism of global dispersal of the virus. Talking to The Nation, wildlife expert and Coordinator Natural Resources Management Rabnawaz on Sunday said that such migratory birds (more than 150 bird species) come from Russia and Africa during November and December, and return in February and March. “After the last outbreak of the H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza and the subsequent allegations that migratory birds are responsible for the spread of the disease to local poultry farms, WWF Pakistan showed its concerns that such statements could have serious repercussions against wild birds population and their habitats. Such statements may prompt mass culling of wild birds and seriously endanger the efforts of conservation organisations and relevant government departments. Since the last outbreak in Sindh, WWF Pakistan has been in close contact with Bird Life International, the world’s authority on birds, which has already carried out significant research and literature review on the role of wild birds, including migratory species in the spread of HPAI H5N1.” “I would like to highlight some of the scientific facts that though there is some evidence to back the case that migratory wild-birds can spread the H5N1 virus, they are not the main source of the virus spread. Sampling of 5,000 water birds after the outbreak in Nigeria during 2006 found no traces of the virus (AIWEB website). Mapping of the outbreaks across the world have shown that they follow trade routes of poultry rather than migratory flyway of wild birds. After a critical review of recent scientific literature it has been concluded that poultry trade, rather than bird migration, is the main mechanism of global dispersal of the virus,” he added. cont.on link above.