Bird Flu in the UK

[StuartDH]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4366520.stm

We'll put together some pages for the reference section this weekend to answer the many questions that people will now have about bird flu.

If anyone wants to get involved, let me know so that you can add content to the pages. We'll include anything and everything from feeding birds in your back garden and eating chicken, to getting jabs and wearing a flu mask, with both sides of the situation without media hype

Cheers

Stuart

[Boddie]

I may be wrong, and hope I am, but this bird flu agenda seems more than just media hype now. You know one thing that irritates me most is the lack of public service announcements that we now get from, I guess, the government. As a youngster I remember TV announcements about how to cross the road properly, not to litter, for kids not to talk to strangers and there was even the famous 'Don't forget your brolley!'. Now we seem to have serious issues such as the bird flu and security issues where everybody is left in the dark to simply specluate on 'whats' 'ifs' and 'maybe's'.

Some commercial radio stations still give public service announcements and one wanders whether there is a charge made to do so but at a time when everybody seems to be regtretting the upcoming hike in the TV license its high time that the BBC, as the national TV station, put more effort into researching such issues and giving accurate advice.

I am confused by the bird flu issue but it seems to be all over the news and yesterday an epidemiologist on a national radio channel said the threat was serious, but it was the elderly and infirm at most risk. Well then that makes it OK then does it?

[Helen]

Sorry but I still can't get excited about it. It's the same as all this "terrorism" talk. People in power love fear. Keep the masses fearful.

As far I know, they don't even know if it is the H5N1 strain yet.
If anything good does come out of this, it will be the highlighting of the awful business of importing wild birds etc.

[Boddie]

Hi Helen

Forgive my ignorance but what do you mean by importing wild birds. Do you mean parrots and the like?

[Helen]

Yes, parrots, finches etc.

I know it's probably a hypocritical stand, but I do feel very uncomfortable with the "exotic" bird/animal trade that goes on.

[StuartDH]

When you think about the world trade in animals most people associate it with people in the Far East buying tigers, rhinos, elephants etc to grind down their bones for use in medicines and soups.

The fact is that the UK is a massive importer of exotic wild birds with over a million legal trades each year and many more illegal trades on top. As far as I know, we top the world league tables. The EU imports more than 50% of all trades worldwide and the UK imports more than all other EU countries put together.

As it looks like today's news of bird flu may have been brought here via an imported exotic bird, it'll no-doubt shed new light on the topic and highlight some facts that the UK will find very embarassing.

[Fourwings]

I've just found this excellent and informative page on the Birdguides website, aimed primarily at bird watchers it provides good solid information regarding H5N1 & wild birds, which could be of use to anyone who is out & about in the countryside.
http://www.birdguides.com/birdnews/article.asp?a=590

[wildone]

Stuart I think message #9 in thread Bird flu - wild birds gives reasonable advice on feeding wild birds until we know that the worst has happened. Wildone

[StuartDH]

Thanks guys, I'll add some of the info to the pages in the resource section

[birdman]

At first I was skeptical as well - I thought this all media hype. But I've now read quite a bit about it, and researched historical flu epiemics in the UK. I know the governments are doing all of they can to quarantine birds, but unfortunately we can't prevent birds from doing what they do in the wild - fly...

At a time like this I don't understand why the UK gov't even allows exotic birds to be imported! Is it really worth the risk?!

I think it's important for us all to be as educated as we can be on the subject.

[birdman]

Does anyone have any new info on Tamiflu and whether we should be buying it (where it's actually in stock)? I'm starting to think the media hype isn't just 'hype' after all....

[Pat]

Originally Posted by Helen

Yes, parrots, finches etc.

I know it's probably a hypocritical stand, but I do feel very uncomfortable with the "exotic" bird/animal trade that goes on.

That's an issue that really gets to me Why would anyone pay hundreds of pounds to keep a bird or animal in a cage, very cruel to my mind.

[birdman]

I know! Birds don't know the difference of exotic birds - they're all equally prone to it. Two more confirmed deaths of birds in Indonesia...

http://www.birdfludefence.com/newnews.php