Posted on 03/04/2006 8:16:08 AM PST by FerdieMurphy
Pigeons, sparrows and other British birds could become infected with bird flu, veterinary experts said yesterday.
Most attention has focused on the threat to domestic poultry and migrating waterfowl. However, other species can be killed by the H5N1 strain.
An expert said yesterday that if bird flu was confirmed in British wild birds, all species should be considered at risk.
Dr Bob McCracken, a former president of the British Veterinary Association, said the virus was "very likely" to reach Britain and could be present for "a protracted period" - even several years.
"There is a danger to all avian species, wild and domestic - and that includes homing pigeons," he said.
Dr McCracken said pigeon fanciers should keep their birds indoors.
But he could offer no advice on how to deal with feral birds. Asked what could be done about pigeons with the virus infesting Trafalgar Square or other city centre sites, he said: "That would be difficult to control."
Fanciers used to race their birds to France and Germany but races are now limited to Britain, said Peter Bryant, the general manager of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, in Cheltenham.
Research on the influenza suggests racing pigeons have "a high resistance," he said.
The virus has also been reported in a range of wild birds, including crows, thrushes, starlings, sparrows, doves, hawks and owls.
However, little is known about the extent to which such birds can remain alive after infection and whether they pose a danger to other animals and humans.
Dr McCracken said he was confident that British poultry farmers would contain any outbreak among their flocks. "Our poultry industry is geared up to look for this disease," he said.
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) said yesterday it was setting up a monitoring programme to test shot crows, magpies and other wild birds.
Mark Cokayne, BASC wildfowling and wetlands officer, said: "There is a possibility that corvids (members of the crow family) which feed on carrion - including dead birds - could be a factor in spreading avian influenza."
Since the present bird flu epidemic emerged in 2003 there have been a total of 173 cases of human infection and 93 deaths.
So far this has been restricted to the eastern hemisphere, but if sparrows get the virus, some are capable of making the transatlantic flight.
These birds can nest in riggins of ships and be in NA in a jiffy.
The western hemisphere knows how to use shotguns, from the average country boys all the way up to the Vice President.
Ahh, let's go down one level on that claim. The VP isn't shooting anymore this year. (I hope)
lol
Why not?
Carolyn
Pigeons and sparrows I won't cry over.
Will you cry when the Bald Eagle bcomes a carrier?
I wasn't too worried about this bird flu thingie until my company was notified by the CDC to begin preparing for 40% absentee rates due to it. Could be panic. It appears the US government is prepared to spend a bunch of billions in preparation. Y2K all over again?
This has all the earmarkings of a goobermint boondoggle and is, no doubt, part of the orchestrated smokescreen to keep the sheep in the pen. While all are fretting about this no one will pay attention to what's happening in the big center ring.
While Americans' attention is being redirected the UN will begin to classify American cities as part of their "protected" biosphere scheme and when it's all over the entire nation will be an integral part of the UN.
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