AVIAN FLU

[Pompey Mick]

good news, just heard on the local radio that pigeon racing has been given the go-ahead under a general licence. Checked the DEFRA website and confirmed it,also applys to shows and sales

[THE FIFER]

YOUR RIGHT POMPEY I HAVE JUST PUT IT ON THE FORUM AND NEWS ARTICLE, I GOT IT FROM PETER BRYANT G/M RPRA SHOWS RACING AUCTIONS CAN GO AHEAD UNDER LICENCE, RACING AT THE MOMENT APPLIES TO THE UK ONLY,

[westburylofts]

 

That is great new's,

so at least we can look forward to an inland programe at least.

 

RAY

[ray]

D.E.F.R.A ban has been lifted as of yesterday all shows and racing go ahead and sales of birds, so if you want to know anymore go to defra site it explains everything. so all the scaremongers will have to find something else to do, sorry lads and lasses

[Guest]

Talk of scaremongering in the last post took me back to 3rd September when I first posted extracts from DEFRA Contingency Plan which contrary to most pigeon fanciers' expectations at that time showed pigeons to be in the government's firing line.  

 

On 9th September DEFRA published a Risk Assessment showing Autumn Migration increased the risk of Avian Flu being brought to the UK. This higher risk period was until December 05.

 

I informed John Barlow, SHU and Peter Bryant, RPRA of these facts and recommended that some lead be taken to prevent government forcing draconian measures on us, hopefully because to a loft we had taken preventative steps which would have protected us from government excesses.

 

By 14th October it was clear and posted, that Unions would be taking no lead and adopting a wait & see policy instead.

 

What followed is history......

 

My points:-

 

(1) Shows etc cancellations could have been avoided and the subsequent lifting of the ban in December could have been foreseen.  Sorry to burst your balloon.

 

(2) Read carefully what DEFRA says about racing. What are veterinary certificates?

 

(3) Our own migratory birds have still to come back from Africa where birds known to be carrying Avian Flu are overwintering, and Zimbabwe (Africa) now has an Avian Flu outbreak for the first time in its recorded history.

 

(4) The virus is still spreading out-of-control in Europe, Ukraine is the latest, and China now has human infections & deaths for the first time.

 

(5) There are 'inexplicable' multiple outbreaks of Newcatle Disease in Europe (that is the pigeon variant, PMV). The Avian Flu Contingency Plan & the Newcatle Disease Contingency Plan are one and the same.

 

 

Not a case of scaremongering : being made aware of future potential problems allows us to work towards possible solutions .... preferably before the potential problem turns into today's f*up ... Had the chance before and we didn't take it, lessons are there to be learned, lets not get caught again. Maybe something for others to be getting on with .... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jimmy white]

i dont think it is scaremongering when it is facts, but it is when its speculation.

[Guest]

Published on 20/12/05, new EC Avian Flu Directive. Objective is a uniform approach throughout Member States BUT allows individual member states certain relaxations subject to detailed risk assessment. ('derogations')  Runs to 126 pages.

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/directive.pdf

 

 

Some bullet points, pigeon related.

 

Pigeon lofts would come under 'non-commercial holdings'  

 

Pigeons Infected with Avian Flu (any type) : Two outcomes : Culled or (derogation) birds held inside loft indefinitely ..... p27 (for H5, H7, other section for LPAI.)

 

(Derogation) Pigeon racing shows etc restricted in surveillance or control zones p50

 

(Derogation) Provides for short term and long term preventative vaccination p82

 

 

 

[Guest]

Independent review of UK Quarantine system was published on 13/12/05. (commissioned following the 'parrot' avian flu incident)  

 

Runs to 68 pages. Recommendations for change for adoption throughout the EU.

 

If adopted, Recommendations 5 & 6 p11 will have implications for pigeon fanciers: 'movements of all captive birds between Member States must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate.'

 

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/control/avianquarantine/report.pdf

 

 

Of personal interest to pigeon fanciers ... page 19, paras 12 to 14: Newcastle Disease. First time I have heard that PMV can causes infections in humans.

[Guest]

Defra's revised Contingency Plan was laid before Parliament on 19/12/05. Runs to 304 pages and covers Avian Flu, Newcastle Disease and Classical Swine Fever. Doesnt appear to take account of revised EU Plan or Quarantine Review published in the same week.

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/pdf/genericcp.pdf

 

Some interesting points from Avian Flu section, begins p241.

 

Mentions in pigeon press that pigeons have been 'declassified as poultry' are mistaken : P241, para 1.6 .. Controls apply to all birds, including pigeons.[NO CHANGE]

 

p245, para 3.2 .. poultry will be moved indoors when at risk (HPAI about.)

 

p245, para 3.7 .. short term national bans on movements of birds may be introduced.

 

p245, para 3.7 .. protection zone: bans fairs shows etc for 21 days.[NO CHANGE]

 

p248, para 3.13 .. AI in racing pigeons = slaughter & movement controls [NO CHANGE]

 

P249, para 3.19 .. Vaccine not an option [NO CHANGE]

 

 

[Guest]

Has france banned for channel racing yet or still allow race over the water?  :-/

 

Any body knows????  :-/

 

We got a race programme from the unc site that we still race over the water (Channel Lillers, Clermont, and Bourges)

[Guest]

FRANCE

 

 

This is a mechanical translation of the French Directive pulled from the French Minister of Agriculture Site:

 

Ministerial decree of 24 October 2005 relative to protection measures of the birds with respect to avian influenza. All the pigeon fanciers of associations, must strictly comply with this important decree which involves de facto a prohibition of the lâchers (flying?) of pigeons until December 1, 2005. However, short exercise flights around the dovecote and under the supervision of the owner, remain authorized. The pigeons must be fed and watered inside the dovecote and these must be protected in such way that the wild birds cannot reach these devices nor to soil them. The gatherings of racing pigeons coming from several pigeon fanciers, are prohibited. However, in the departments other than those being reproduced on the list annexed in the present decree, the prefect can grant an exemption from this prohibition, which is subordinated to the respect of sanitary arrangements specified by instruction of the Minister in charge of agriculture.

 

French Directive Review 1st December 05

 

 

This is a short pull from the French Homing Union Website:

 

Mise à jour du 10/12/05 (prolongation)

Paris, 1st Dec 2005

 

Lors du comité vétérinaire européen (CPCASA) du 23 novembre il a été décidé de prolonger les mesures de protection des élevages contre l'Influenza aviaire, dans les Etats membres de l'Union européenne, jusqu'au 31 mai 2006.

 

 

Kept it short because me french isn't very good and mechanical translations I've tried aren't much better. Basically says that following the above review held on 23rd November, France decided to extend its existing avian flu measures until 31st May 2006.

 

 

[Guest]

Bruno, Translated from your bottom french language says

 

Update of the 10/12/05 (prolongation) Paris, 1st DEC 2005 At the time of the European veterinary committee (CPCASA) of November 23 it was decided to prolong the protection measures of the breedings against Influenza aviaire, in the Member States of the European Union, until May 31, 2006.

[Pompey Mick]

In a statement by Margaret Beckett in which she accepts the Dimmock report on Avian Quarantine it catagorically states the following 'Avian flu and Newcastle disease present little risk to public health' and bearing in mind that pigeons are not susceptible to Avian Flu, how have we got involved in all this panic stricken hype.

I could understand all this panic by governments over this virus if it had happened two years ago when it killed 60 people in the initial outbreak but in the two years since then it has hardly had any impact on the human population in global terms. Obviously it could mutate into a killer pandemic flu, but it could also mutate into a gentler form of the virus. NO-ONE knows for certain, the only statistic the chemists throw at us is that these Pandemics happen roughly every thirty years, and that is only on the basis of the last century, it doesn't seem to go into the 1800's. Very scientific.

The only winners are the Pharmacutical companies who have received billions from panicking Governments

[Guest]

In a statement by Margaret Beckett in which she accepts the Dimmock report on Avian Quarantine it catagorically states the following 'Avian flu and Newcastle disease present little risk to public health' and bearing in mind that pigeons are not susceptible to Avian Flu, how have we got involved in all this panic stricken hype.

I could understand all this panic by governments over this virus if it had happened two years ago when it killed 60 people in the initial outbreak but in the two years since then it has hardly had any impact on the human population in global terms. Obviously it could mutate into a killer pandemic flu, but it could also mutate into a gentler form of the virus. NO-ONE knows for certain, the only statistic the chemists throw at us is that these Pandemics happen roughly every thirty years, and that is only on the basis of the last century, it doesn't seem to go into the 1800's. Very scientific.

The only winners are the Pharmacutical companies who have received billions from panicking Governments

 

 

The origins of this thread were questions raised by members, with very little in the way of answers. Other than the very early days of the thread, there's no panic or hype, just plain facts. It also provides a time-line of our developing layperson knowledge and understanding of how this may affect us as pigeon fanciers... directly and indirectly. It takes some reading but there's more factual information here than any other single source, and related directly to people and pigeons.

 

Members earliest worst fears of government excess were realised when DEFRA instigated a Europe-wide ban on pigeon shows sales, etc and were especially hard-line in the UK, banning everything even though there was no Avian Flu presence here. Even the pigeon press blame the EC for a hard-line Directive, when it was DEFRA who proposed it in the first place. Tken with how they performed during F&M its a good indicator that they are likely to be hard-line with Avian Flu in the future too.

 

My first advice would be on your point on hype - stop reading the sanitised press news releases and concentrate more on the fine detail of the operational plans. All the Pigeon Press nonsense about pigeons off the hook as far as H5 and H7 are concerned is exactly that - nonsense, which this extract from the latest Avian Flu proposed contingency plan clearly shows:

 

 

SECTION 1 – Background

 

Avian Influenza (Highly Pathogenic)

1.1 AI is a highly infectious viral disease that can affect all species of birds. The

severity of disease depends upon the strain and subtype of virus and the type of

bird infected.

1.6 Controls would apply to domestic fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowls, quails, pigeons, ratites (e.g. ostriches), pheasants and partridges reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption or

eggs for restocking supplies of game.

 

1.8 Good biosecurity is required to stop onward spread.

 

Your mixing possible human flu pandemic and the factual spread of avian flu clouds both these issues - they are entirely seperate problems... for now.

 

Science can only go back as far as records have been kept, and their use is dependant upon the knowledge of the time. For example, they didn't have the technology and couldn't even see a virus in 1918 and didn't fully appreciate what they were dealing with in the Spanish flu outbreak, so info from 1800's is probably going to be even less helpful. The Public Health Implications from the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 virus are acknowledged by all governments world-wide.

 

Information about the current outbreaks of avian flu is available on World Health Organisation website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/

 

You are correct that a virus can become less aggressive. This is not happening with H5N1. Transmission of avian influenza viruses to people was unknown (and remains relatively rare, most cases occur as a result of direct contact with infected poultry or other birds or their faeces) and only occurs with H5N1 and H7N7.

 

Contrary to what you say, there wasn't any initial outbreak which took 60 human lives, but a series of 'bush fires' which continue to burn across half the globe, and the real science figure is that although it doesn't get into humans too easily, of the 141 humans it has managed to infect, it has killed 73 of them, and usually very quickly, as the following latest report from the WHO site shows:  

 

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 50

 

23 December 2005

 

The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed two additional cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

 

The first case occurred in an 8-year-old boy from Central Jakarta. He developed symptoms of fever and cough on 8 December. He was hospitalised on 13 December, and died on 15 December.

 

Family members and close contacts were placed under observation and tested for possible infection, however, none have developed symptoms. Investigations have been undertaken to determine the source of the boy's exposure and samples from pigeons around his household are being tested.

 

The second case occurred in a 39-year-old man from East Jakarta. He first reported symptoms of fever, headache, cough and shortness of breath on 9 December. He was hospitalised on 11 December and died on 12 December.

 

Family members and close contacts were placed under observation. Investigations are being undertaken to determine the source of the man’s exposure. While he did not keep poultry in his household, chickens and other birds were found in his neighbourhood. Samples from these birds have been taken and are undergoing tests to determine whether they may have been the source of infection.

These newly confirmed cases bring the total number in Indonesia to 16. Of these cases, 11 were fatal.                

 

 

And lastly, pigeons are susceptible to H5N1 - there are specific documented cases and you will see from the above report on the child's death, pigeons are fingered as a source and spread of H5N1 to humans.

 

So I agree that none of us should fall for any hype, or spread rumours which cause alarm or panic. Simply remain properly informed of developments, be prepared and above all be careful. I agree that panic measures, over- or underhyping the risks, serves no purpose other than to confuse the issues.

 

 

[Guest]

Its very easy to forget the suffering behind the statistics.

 

My respect and heartfelt condolences to the Indonesian family, relatives and friends of the 8 year old boy who died recently of avian flu. lt is especially difficult to lose a child, more so at this time of year and especially so to something like bird flu.

[Guest]

Dear Sir/Madam

 

TRADE RESTRICTIONS DUE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA

This information reflects information we have received in the last week or so.

 

Background

Customer Information Note GEN/05/118, issued Friday, 28 October, explained the background to the UK avian influenza quarantine incident and about reports that a few other countries have imposed global bans on poultry imports. This appears to be as a result of general concerns and not specifically related to the UK incident.

 

Argentina

The Argentine authorities have now lifted their Newcastle disease ban and agreed the export health certificate for day old chicks. We are negotiating a certificate for hatching eggs. Meanwhile, the global ban on imports of poultry and poultry meat is still in place. We have been advised that derogations will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Exporters/importers will therefore need to check with the Argentine authorities that their consignment(s) will be accepted.

 

Australia

The authorities have agreed further amendments to the export health certificate for pigeons and revised the avian influenza conditions for the certificate for hatching eggs. Both certificates are available to exporters.

 

China

In response to our letter requesting that the Newcastle disease restrictions are lifted, we have received a detailed questionnaire. As a consequence, the export health certificates for day old ducklings/hatching eggs and chicken hatching eggs/day old chicks are not available to exporters.

 

Egypt

Egypt has banned imports of live birds, poultry meat and products from 20 October 2005. This is a global ban because of general concern about imports and it is not as a result of the UK incident in quarantine. Poultrymeal will be banned from 10 November 2005. Export health certificates are therefore not available to exporters.

 

Indonesia

The British Embassy, Jakarta, has been told informally that there should not be a problem importing day old chicks. We await official confirmation from the Indonesian authorities. The export health certificate for day old chicks & hatching eggs will therefore be made available on production of an import permit.

 

Jordan

Although the Jordanian authorities have introduced a worldwide ban on the importation of live birds, there is an exception for UK day-old-chicks and hatching eggs.

 

Kenya

Informed by a reliable source that the Kenyan authorities have imposed a ban of all UK poultry and poultry products due to the recent quarantine incident. We are trying to get clarification of the exact position. Meanwhile, the British High Commission, Nairobi, advises exporters to hold off for the time being. As a result, export health certificates are unavailable to exporters.

 

Morocco

A local newspaper reports that the Moroccan authorities have introduced a ban on exotic birds and birds of the following species: ostriches, pigeons, falcons, canaries, parrots and any other wild birds from all origins. Wild birds brought into Morocco through local frontiers will either have entry forbidden or will be killed in situ. The ban does not appear to include poultry. Certificate for day old chicks and hatching eggs will be issued to exporters on production of an import permit.

 

Nepal

An exporter has notified us that the authorities have imposed an avian influenza ban on poultry from Europe. We have asked the British Embassy, Kathmandu, for clarification.

 

Nigeria

We have been informed that the Nigerian authorities have introduced a global ban on all imports of birds, eggs, poultry meat & poultry products in order to develop their own local production. We will, however, issue an export certificate on sight of an import permit.

 

Saudi Arabia

The authorities have introduced a global ban but it may not apply to day old chicks and hatching eggs. We advise exporters to liaise closely with importers and to proceed cautiously.

 

South Korea

Following the quarantine incident, exporters are still experiencing post import quarantine delays. We are trying to get the same conditions as imports from other countries.

 

Sri Lanka

The British High Commission, Colombo, has been advised that the Sri Lankan authorities will not be issuing import permits for poultry, day old chicks & poultry products, including feathers; and other birds “for the time being”. In effect a temporary global ban. The position will be reviewed after December 2005. The export health certificate for day old chicks to Sri Lanka is therefore unavailable to exporters.

 

Sudan

We have asked the British Embassy, Khartoum, to seek the agreement of the Sudanese authorities to a revised export health certificate for hatching eggs and day old chicks. The Embassy is currently closed for the Christmas Holiday and 2 January 2006 is a public holiday. This certificate will be made available to exporters as soon as we receive official confirmation that it is acceptable.

 

Syria

The Newcastle disease ban on UK poultry remains in place and, in addition, the authorities have introduced an indefinite worldwide ban due to avian influenza. Export health certificates are therefore not available to exporters.

 

Taiwan

We will shortly be submitting draft certificates for the export of day old ducklings and day old chicks to the authorities. Meanwhile, the certificates will be available to exporters on production of an import permit.

 

Uganda

We are trying to clarify if the Ugandan authorities have imposed a ban on the import of day old chicks and hatching eggs. Export health certificate for day old chicks currently unavailable to exporters.

 

Vietnam

British Embassy, Hanoi, has confirmed that the Vietnamese authorities have banned all imports of poultry and birds worldwide. Export health certificate for day old chicks currently unavailable to exporters.

 

Yemen

Advised by the British Embassy, Sana’a that due to avian influenza concerns, the Yemeni authorities have introduced an import ban. Companies should, however, contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation before ordering or importing. Each potential import will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Export health certificate for day old chicks & hatching eggs currently unavailable to exporters.

 

CIN Circulation List

If you are not receiving this CIN by email and you would like to do so, please send your name and email address to the address below.

 

 

Further Enquiries

4. If you have any enquiries or comments concerning this Customer Information Note please contact Rod MacArthur, Export Enquiries, on 020 7904 6404

Email: mailto: iah-exports@defra.gsi.gov.uk

[Guest]

MIGRATORY BIRDS CONTINUE TO BE IMPLICATED IN THE SPREAD OF H5N1

 

OIE Website carries official reports from Romania & Turkey of fresh outbreaks of H5N1:-

 

Romania 29/12; fresh outbreaks 14th, 19th, 20th December; backyard poultry flocks in villages surrounded by lakes & pools. Source reckoned to be migratory wild birds whose numbers are increasing daily.

 

Turkey 27/12; fresh outbreak 15th December; backyard poultry; source under investigation. The report says this area of Eastern Turkey is one of the main routes of wild migratory birds passing over Anatolia.

 

 

Not clear if these are winter migrations or birds returning home for spring breeding?

[Guest WINGS 04]

watch the news one boy dead in turkey i think 2 more ill with h5n1

[Guest]

yes 2 children have died in turkey

[Guest]

Saw it over here on CNN this morning

[Guest]

Situation in Turkey since 31st December 05 has led to very confusing news reports, especially Monday 2nd January when a child had been reported to have died of the disease - then 'not avian flu'. WHO website hasn't been current with situation updates, until today. This is the official current position.

 

Avian influenza – situation in Turkey

 

5 January 2006

 

The Ministry of Health in Turkey has confirmed its first two cases of human infection with avian influenza caused by the H5 virus subtype. Both cases were fatal.

 

The first case was a 14-year-old boy from the rural district of Dogubayazit, in the eastern province of Agri, which borders the Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia. He was hospitalized in Van Province on 1 January and died the same day. The second case was his 15-year-old sister, also hospitalized on 1 January. She died on 5 January.

 

Earlier this week, Turkish authorities had ruled out avian influenza in these cases based on preliminary test results from samples taken from the nose and throat. Subsequent tests of additional patient specimens taken from the lungs produced positive results. Patient samples were sent today to a WHO collaborating centre in the United Kingdom for further analysis. The samples have now arrived; results are expected within the next days.

 

Turkish health authorities have informed WHO that, since 1 January, a total of 11 patients (including the two confirmed fatal cases) have been hospitalized in Van Province with symptoms suggesting infection with avian influenza. Most patients are children between the ages of six and fifteen years and all reside in the Dogubayazit district. Two of the children are siblings of the two confirmed cases.

 

Following a request by the Ministry of Health, an initial team of experts from WHO, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Commission is travelling today to Turkey to collaborate with the authorities in their investigation of the situation.

 

Initial information about the confirmed cases suggests that the children acquired their infection following close contact with chickens. Deaths of chickens are known to have occurred in the Dogubayazit district near the end of last year. Although no poultry outbreak has been officially reported in the district, a confirmed outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in chickens and ducks was reported on 27 December in the adjacent province of Igdir.

 

National authorities have informed WHO that Dogubayazit district has been placed under quarantine; no people or animals are allowed to move in or out of the district. Culling operations are currently under way.

 

The two Turkish cases mark the first confirmed reports of human infection with avian influenza outside East Asia. Since January 2004, a total of 142 human cases of H5N1 infection have been reported in Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and China. The cases in Turkey bring the number of affected countries to six, from which 144 cases have now been reported.

 

Turkey reported its first outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in mid-October of last year. That outbreak, which occurred in the northwestern part of the country, was attributed to contact between domestic poultry and migratory waterfowl. The outbreak in Igdir and other suspected outbreaks in this part of the country are thought to have occurred following introduction of the virus by migratory birds. The region, which has several large lakes, is known to lie along migratory routes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Avian influenza – situation in Turkey - update

 

7 January 2006

 

The Ministry of Health in Turkey has confirmed an additional two cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Both cases are children, aged five and eight years, and both are hospitalized. This brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Turkey to four. Two of these cases were fatal.

 

A WHO collaborating laboratory in the United Kingdom has today confirmed detection of the H5N1 virus in samples taken from the two fatal cases.

 

The Ministry of Health has also announced a third death, presumably caused by the H5N1 virus, in a 12-year-old girl. The girl, who died on 6 January, is a sibling of the two children who died. A fourth child in the family, a six-year-old boy, is also hospitalized. Tests on samples from these patients are ongoing; neither is laboratory confirmed at present.

 

According to Turkish authorities, some 30 patients are being treated and evaluated for possible H5N1 infection at a hospital in Van Province. Most of the patients are children, and the majority come from the rural district of Dogubayazit.

 

Plans for a team of international experts to travel today to Van Province have been deferred because of adverse weather conditions. Government officials are assisting the team in finding a rapid mode of transportation to the affected area in the eastern part of the country.

 

To date, all evidence indicates that patients have acquired their infections following close contact with diseased poultry. Contact between people and poultry has likely increased during the present cold weather, when the custom among many rural households is to bring poultry into their homes. Tests have shown that the virus can survive in bird faeces for at least 35 days at low temperatures (4oC).

 

Based on experiences during the avian H5N1 outbreaks in Asia, behaviours that carry an especially high risk of infection include the slaughtering, defeathering, butchering, and preparation for consumption of diseased poultry. These behaviours tend to occur most frequently in rural areas where populations traditionally slaughter and consume birds once deaths or signs of illness are seen in poultry flocks.

 

In recent days, vigilance for outbreaks of the disease in poultry has increased considerably. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza have now been confirmed in six provinces in the eastern and south-eastern part of the country. Outbreaks at additional sites in the area are under investigation.

 

Avoidance of high-risk behaviours remains the most important way for local populations to protect themselves from infection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

 

 

Turkey reports bird flu in five more people

 

Monday January 9, 10:00 AM    

 

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The deadly bird flu virus has been identified in five more people across Turkey, a local health official said on Monday, while 21 people were being tested for the disease in Istanbul, the country's largest city.

 

Health Ministry official Turan Buzgan told the state-run Anatolian news agency there were new human cases in the Black Sea provinces of Kastamonu, Corum and Samsun

 

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and the eastern province of Van.

The first case of the virus jumping from birds to humans outside China and southeast Asia occurred last week in rural eastern Turkey, where three children from the same family died after contracting the H5N1 strain.

 

Turkey has now reported 12 people as suffering from the bird flu virus, in addition to the three youngsters who died.

 

However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed only four cases in Turkey, including two deaths. The WHO said other cases had not so far been verified by laboratory tests.

 

The children who died last week almost certainly caught the virus directly from chickens, officials say.

 

World health authorities worry that human exposure to the bird flu virus could lead to the emergence of a mutation allowing easier transmission between humans -- and raising the prospect of a global pandemic.

 

Turkey said on Sunday that three people from villages in the Ankara region had tested positive for the virus, the farthest west that any case of bird flu in humans has been reported, and the latest stage in an apparent advance towards major economic centres in Turkey and Europe.

 

Four children have also tested positive for the H5N1 strain in the city of Van, about 800 km (500 miles) east of Ankara, the local authorities said.

 

ISTANBUL FEARS

 

Twenty-one people in the Istanbul area are in hospital amid fears they have bird flu, newspapers said on Monday, raising concern that the deadly disease has spread to Turkey's commercial hub of 12 million people.

 

If any of the tests are positive, it would mark the first time that human cases of a disease that originated in China and southeast Asia have been reported so far west.

 

Istanbul is about 400 km (250 miles) west of Ankara, Turkey's densely populated commercial and tourism hub, and marks the gateway to Europe.

 

Health authorities expected to receive test results on the 21 people on Monday, the Milliyet daily said. Fourteen of them were from the same family. Istanbul municipality was planning a news conference on Monday.

 

Istanbul province deputy health director Mehmet Bakar said initial tests on two dead chickens in the Istanbul district of Kucukcekmece indicated they were infected by the bird flu virus, the reports said. A third test was being carried out to determine the definitive diagnosis.

 

"21 people under suspicion (of having bird flu) have been kept in hospital under observation. Samples have been taken from these people and sent to the laboratory for examination," Bakar was quoted as saying in Star newspaper.

 

Officials were not immediately available to confirm the reports.

 

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/09012006/325/turkey-reports-bird-flu-five-people.html

[alliance]

We are continually being asked about avian/bird flu and what precautions can be taken. I've done a some research myself and I've also asked B.Braun Medical. I've set up a link for anyone to access the information. The greatest contribution you can make when trying to prevent the spread of bird flu is good hand hygiene. Poor hand hygiene is responsible for 70% of all cross infection.

 

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/chemicalalliance/myhomepage/business.html

[barry]

hi ive just been told that there will be no racing from france this year by a local fancier who works were i do , has anybody else heard this or is it just one of the rumors that seem to start from someone but never goes anywhere. he also says that the 5 bird club in sussex is thinking of going north if theres no south road ....