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        Special Topics 特別主題 >> Wild Birds & Avian Flu 野鳥與禽流感 >>  Avian Flu - Background Info. 禽流感 - 參考資料
        
(Message started by: Project Officer on Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:45pm)
Title: Avian Flu - Background Info. 禽流感 - 參考資料
Post by Project Officer on Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:45pm
Think you might find the following correspondence from BirdLife International about bird flu a useful reference...


Quote"

----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Long"
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 1:51 AM
Subject: AVIAN FLU - background information in relation to wild birds


Dear all BirdLife network colleagues
AVIAN FLU
You will have read in the news about the damage caused to Asian economies and the deaths of some people in close contact with infected chickens.

Stories in some national press are beginning to blame migratory and wild birds. And in part of Europe there are bans on cage birds - the EU has imposed a temporary ban on the importantion of cage birds from nine Asian countries The RSPB are drafting a position on Avian flu, lead by Andy Evans. Here are some notes drafted by Andy which may be of use to you in dealing with queries and for informing your own contacts about the situation with regard
to wild birds.

  • There are no known cases of transmission between wild birds and humans
  • Currently it is not a period where birds undertake long-distance migrations from their SE Asian wintering grounds
  • The chances of a wild bird carrying the virus from SE Asia to the UK are negligible
  • The chances of human infection in the UK from a wild bird are virtually non-existent (currently)
  • In view of this, we do not believe there is any justification for widespread culls of wild birds. There may be a case of protecting domestic poultry from contact with wild birds. Although wild birds are known to
    carry the virus and develop the disease, there is no direct evidence they are the vector between the current widespread outbreaks.
  • Notwithstanding this, contact with wild birds in SE Asia should be avoided (especially hunting of wildfowl & game).
  • The possibility of other vectors (eg human travellers with infected footwear from poultry farms, exported poultry) should be investigated as a matter of urgency.

There are specific fact sheets on Avian Flu at the World Health Organisation
website <http://www.who.int/en/index.html>
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have a
risk assessments, contingency plan and a Q and A are available at
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza.
htm>

Best wishes
Ade Long
Head of Commuincations
"Unquote


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