I agree.
The EU has shut its doors to us already. Hong Kong, as a major transshipment centre for cagebirds from all over China and Indochina needs to demonstrate that it is willing to play its part by preventing birds infected with HPAI from being moved into Hong Kong or anywhere else in the world.
It should now be clear that the problems with HPAI come when either wild birds or poultry are crammed into crowded, stressful, unhealthy conditions where the viruses and the diseases they cause spread from bird to bird like wildfire.
Because of these conditions the quantities of the virus in each bird rises far higher than is normally the case in the wild, greatly increasing the risk of transmission and infection.
As these viral loads in individual caged birds and poultry become higher and higher, and with the constant reinfection caused by the cramped and unsanitary conditions, the conditions for subsequent mutation of the virus improve dramatically.
So at a stroke the risk of infection to humans around the world, and the risk of creating new, more deadly strains of H5N1 is dramatically increased by permitting the trade in wild birds into and through Hong Kong to continue.
So far the Hong Kong Government has:
1. Misapplied overseas legislation to determine when nature reserves should be closed. The HK Government used EU legislation designed to prevent HPAI spreading from one poultry farm to another to control the spread of HPAI fom wild birds to humans!
2. Disregarded global best practice in proposing to close wetlands if a bird infected with H5 is found within 3km of the site. Global experts suggested that wetland reserves should not be closed unless a major outbreak is discovered at the site.
3. Over-reacted to the risk of infection from wild birds, despite the advice of the experts in the disease both inside and outside Hong Kong. Remember, not a single person anywhere in the world has contracted H5N1 from a wild bird!
4.Created confusion by applying double standards to prevent human infection from infected birds found in urban and rural areas. Despite the 3km rule for wetland reserves - birds found in urban areas are (sensibly) simply removed without the imposition of 21 day exclusion zones and life continues as normal.
5.Created unnecessary fear of wild birds by its own over-reaction and its desire to be seen to be doing something.
and quixotically . . .
6.Failed to react appropriately to a situation which carries a more serious risk of human infection - wild-caught birds held in appalling conditions in close proximity to humans.
This is the story so far, and it is not a good one. It is clear that HK Government should:
A. Adopt the same approach as the EU and ban the import of all wild caught birds into and through Hong Kong
B. Ban the deliberate release of any birds into the wild unless conducted by licenced parties according IUCN Guidelines or other global best practice.
C. Review its practice for closing wetland reserves in the case of the discovery of infected birds in the vicinity. Consultation involving those with expert knowledge of wild birds is essential.
D. Provide accurate and timely information about the risk of infection of humans from wild birds.
I am hoping for a serious outbreak . . . a violent, highly contagious outbreak . . . of a rare and unusual condition amongst our health and safety bureaucrats . . . a good strong dose of commonsense!
Optimistically,
Mike Kilburn
