October 28, 2005
Bird Flu - cutting through the sensationalism
I hate to even bring this up, but I thought I should mention something at some point about “The Bird Flu,” more specifically known as Avian Influenza H5N1. The reason I have been hesitant about mentioning it is that once again the American Media has done a wonderful job of disseminating misinformation, causing undue panic, and flaming hysteria about the next disease that will wipe out humanity - and many of us are already sick of hearing about it. (Weren’t we all supposed to be dead from SARS and West Nile Virus by now anyway?)
Don’t get me wrong, H5N1 is real. It has killed around 70 people in the past three years (Insert comment about how many people die each day from lighting strikes, car accidents, and just plain stupidity). Yes, the threat of a pandemic is real – but one, it is only a threat, and two, it happens to be a rather low threat. There are a lot of “ifs” involved in the discussion. But, from too many television and print “news” report, the real facts are – as always – lost among the hype and hysteria.
But, I’ll leave the threat to humans for the medical professionals, which I am most
definitely not. But, how does it affect birds? And do we have to be worried about feeding birds and going out birdwatching?
Simple answer – no. At this time there is no threat to North American birds, those who feed them, or those who watch them. And, there is very little chance that it will become a threat. When bird flu has been found in wild birds, it has been found in waterfowl. It can be transmitted from waterfowl to domestic poultry. It may be transmitted from poultry to humans. However, it is not known to occur in “perching birds”, such as our songbirds from warblers to sparrows to finches. There has never been a case of transmission between wild birds and humans.
I strongly urge you to do a little more reading on the subject to learn the FACTS about Avian Influenza. The media in this country has once again done a terrible job of presenting the facts and has done little to accomplish anything other than sensationalize the issue.
The best resource that I have found on the issue is from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. See especially the answers to questions 4 and 5. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the American Bird Conservancy have issued a statement on the topics, and you can check the World Health Organization’s website to learn more.
Thanks for posting this much needed dose of reality!
People have been asking me if I am worried about bird flu because I have chickens. I tell them that I am being very careful not to let my birds free-range in the poultry markets of Indonesia.
Posted by
SandraOctober 28, 2005 04:35 PM
Another reason not to panic too much is there might be a simple treatment for bird flu, as well as regular flu and other viruses. We focus on the patient's immune response to the virus, rather than on the virus itself. So far, we've had 82% success treating another lethal viral disease, West Nile virus encephalitis. We're hoping our treatment will work for many different viruses, although we know it won't work for all of them.
Just click on the "Avian flu" link at www.genomed.com to download the free trial documents.
Posted by
Dave Moskowitz MDOctober 28, 2005 04:41 PM
Glad there's at least a couple people out there who haven't paniced!
-Derek
Posted by Derek
October 29, 2005 12:19 PM
My mom was asking me if Bird Flu could affect me because I handle birds while banding them. I frequently volenteer to work at the Gilsland Farm banding project, which runs from May to August, as well as Northern Saw-Whet Owl Banding in October. Is banding a risk to me because of H5N1? Don't worry, I'm not panicking, its my parents. Could you clarify this for me (and my parents)?
Thanks,
Luke Seitz
Falmouth
http://mainebirders.tripod.com
Posted by
Luke SeitzDecember 9, 2005 02:05 PM
Statistically speaking you have a far greater chance of getting struck by lightning while banding or getting into a car accident while driving to banding than getting any type of sickness from handling a bird.
As for H5N1 - again, it is the media's hype that is getting people to even consider this as a possiblity. Right now, it is not even the most remote of possibilities. First, H5N1 has NOT been found in North America. Second, it has NEVER been recorded in a ANY passerine or owl ANYWHERE. If you were banding chickens (maybe waterfowl in China as well) I might have a bit more concern, but there is nothing to worry about banding songbirds or owls.
Just to put things in perspective: 35,000 people DIE each year from the REGULAR FLU in the UNITED STATES. About 75 people have died in the world (mostly in SE Asia) from H5N1 in THREE YEARS. So, you should probably have your mom keep you out of school to avoid getting the flu (I'm kidding - don't get any smart ideas!)
Posted by Derek
December 9, 2005 02:14 PM
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