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        Special Topics ¯S§O¥DÃD >> Wild Birds & Avian Flu ³¥³¾»P¸V¬y·P >>  Our Response to the Avian Flu Issue ¥»·|¹ï¸V¬y·P°ÝÃDªº¦^À³
        
(Message started by: Project Officer on Feb 4^th, 2004, 6:51pm)

Title: Our Response to the Avian Flu Issue ¥»·|¹ï¸V¬y·P°ÝÃDªº¦^À³
Post by Project Officer on Feb 4^th, 2004, 6:51pm

For Immediate Release

HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue

4 February 2004, Hong Kong ¡V The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) met World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong, The Conservancy Association and Dr. Hon. Lo Wing Lok on the issue of avian flu today.

At the meeting, Dr H F Cheung, Vice-chairman of HKBWS said:

(1) "Our field observations up to now show that we have a healthy wild bird population in Hong Kong";

(2) "Bird-watching is a safe and healthy activity (by its nature, bird-watchers have to keep good distance from birds in order to be able to watch them), so long as simple common sense hygiene measures are followed";

(3) "Wild birds share the same environment with Man and they are as clean as we make the environment".

- Ends -

Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue
Post by Project Officer on Feb 5^th, 2004, 11:35am

There are some news report on the issue today. Most of them mention bird watching is a safety activity as we keep a good distance from birds, and the population of wild birds are healthy in nature. Medical professional also pointed out there is no evidence that wild birds are vectors for transmission of virus to human.

Please find below extracted information (chinese) for members' reference:

1. Hong Kong Daily News
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2. Tai Kung Pao
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3. Oriental Daily
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4. Singtao Daily
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5. Sing Pao Daily News
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Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue
Post by Owen on Feb 5^th, 2004, 11:57am

Want to Cry.. Many Thanks...!!! Many Many Thanks~~!!
Hope we can go back MPNR soon..!!

Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue (4 Feb 04)
Post by Martin Williams on Feb 7^th, 2004, 5:01pm

Birdw Soc response could have been more robust. (Birdw Soc strong over Long Valley; less so with this it seems.)

"Wild birds .. are as clean as we make the environment"
- yeah, if both peregrines were abandoned captive birds (fed on chicken?)
and if the egret, two grey herons, one black-headed gull known to have had this nasty, new form of H5N1 were infected from source in poultry industry (even indirectly - are some creeks here awash with effluent from chicken farms? also dead chickens etc etc)

More humans than wild birds known to have died in HK from H5N1. Haven't noticed the govt advising us to avoid humans.

Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue (4 Feb 04)
Post by °²³¾°g on Feb 7^th, 2004, 7:18pm

I have a different view.

My understanding to that sentence is "birds are victim", "they could be affected by the environment that created by Man", "the avian flu outbreak is brought out by Man"...

In this complex situation, I saw some members of the Society tried hard to seek help from medical professional, to response media wisely, and to successfully make all the three simple and strict-forward message out in more than 6 pieces of newspapers.

The story-line of journalists is "birds are carrier of virus", they haven't response to the fact that "it is not the migratory season of SE Asia birds". I saw the same point in your letter to the editor on SCMP last week, and also in the BirdLife statement, but I coundn't found any feedback by news media, you know.

Sorry I am not familiar to this issue and contribute nothing. BUT I do appreciate the vice-chairman and other volunteers who are working hard on this issue and to collect relevant information for HKBWS members.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to them.

I look forward to seeing more members' contribution.

Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue (4 Feb 04)
Post by Captain on Feb 8^th, 2004, 12:13am

Also, the 20,000 - 30,000 ft migration altitude of most migratory birds is certainly impossible for them to bomb chicken farms with their H5N1 droppings (if any). And then, causing outbreak of H5N1.

If the droppings of migratory birds could disperse H5N1, why we so far get them from chicken, not directly from the droppings of migratory birds that wintering or stopover HK from August to October 2003?

In addition, do most waterbirds migrate over the sea? not inland areas where chicken farms are located.

Another point of reference. Chicken farms are neither migratory stopovers nor birdwatching hotspots in the world.

[b][/b].

Up to now, they can't even find H5N1 in migratory birds in Asia (they may not even know how broad of migratory birds are, ranging from big waterbirds to the commonest white-eyes and the frequently seen Black Kite over Central everyday). They also can't explain how H5N1 migratory birds infected chicken in chicken farms.

Title: Re: HKBWS Responded the Avian Flu issue (4 Feb 04)
Post by Webcreeper on Feb 8^th, 2004, 9:23am

That's why WHO can only say that the link between bird flu and migratory birds is implicated. There is no direct evidence:

"The disease can spread from country to country through international trade in live poultry. Migratory birds, including wild waterfowl, sea birds, and shore birds, can carry the virus for long distances and have, in the past, been implicated in the international spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Migratory waterfowl ¡V most notably wild ducks ¡V are the natural reservoir of bird flu viruses, and these birds are also the most resistant to infection. They can carry the virus over great distances, and excrete it in their droppings, yet develop only mild and short-lived illness."

They also name a number of ways through which the virus can spread:

1. Contaminated equipment, vehicles, feed, cages or clothing ¡V especially shoes ¡V can carry the virus from farm to farm.

2. Carried on the feet and bodies of animals, such as rodents, which act as ¡§mechanical vectors¡¨ for spreading the disease. Limited evidence suggests that flies can also act as mechanical vectors.

3. Droppings from infected wild birds - the risk is greatest where domestic birds roam freely, share a water supply with wild birds, or use a water supply that might become contaminated by droppings from infected wild-bird carriers.

4. So called ¡§wet¡¨ markets, where live birds are sold under crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions, can be another source of spread.

The frequency at which 1, 2 and 4 can occur is far greater than that of 3.

From WHO's website, FAQ for Avian Flu
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/avian_faqs/en/#whatis