Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

In any case, no strain of 'flu virus would survive cooking.

I hope you are right! I eat chicken like 3-4 times/week!!

I wouln't go out with her again!

[devil]

In the past, have you heard of Fowl Pest? It is another name for this disease and there are >150 known strains of it and it has been transmitted, in the past, on rare occasions to people handling infected birds but it has never been transmitted between humans. This is therefore not new.

This is an article on the BTO website which seems very clear
http://www.bto.org/notices/bird_flu.htm

Avian influenza

RSPB, BirdLife International, WWT and BTO have produced a joint statement on avian flu. This explains what it is and indicates the risks and consequences associated with the virus. Government and non-government organisations are discussing these issues and will continue so to do.

Bird ringers are reminded that guidance was included in the summer 2004 edition of Ringers’ Bulletin.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

The joint statement reads:

There are numerous strains (at least 135) of avian influenza, many of which circulate in wild birds at low levels, but which can occur more frequently in waterbirds. Most of these do not affect wild birds or only cause mild illness in birds. Strains are divided into two types, dependent on their pathogenicity (disease-causing ability) to domestic poultry. High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (including H5N1) can cause great mortality in domestic poultry flocks but are very rare in wild birds. The current strain of concern, H5N1 is highly pathogenic but was never recorded in wild birds before the recent outbreaks in SE Asia and Russia. It is likely that this highly pathogenic strain originated in domestic poultry through recombination of low pathogenic sub-types and was subsequently passed from poultry to wild birds. Transmission is promoted in domestic flocks due to the density of birds and the consequent close contact with faecal and other secretions through which the virus can be transmitted. Husbandry methods in SE Asia where domestic flocks are often allowed to mix freely with wild birds, especially waterfowl will have facilitated the transmission to migratory waterbirds.

The H5N1 virus seems to be spreading, with recent outbreaks in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and several regions of Russia, on top of the spread through Asia since the end of 2003. It is not yet entirely clear how the disease is spreading, but clearly there is a possibility that migrating waterbirds are involved.

The situation is evolving rapidly from day to day, and our position on the disease and proposed control measures will continue to evolve as new data emerge. The points below are based on the best information available on 23 August 2005:

1. Despite the current outbreaks and recorded deaths of wild birds (predominantly waterfowl) from H5N1, there is, as yet, no definitive proof that migratory birds have transmitted the disease between countries or regions within countries. However, the possibility remains that migratory birds may have played a part in transmission of the virus, and we cannot ignore this possibility.
2. There have been no recorded instances of transmission of the disease between infected wild birds and humans. The H5N1 virus strain is not currently contagious between humans and most human cases to date have been associated with close contact with infected domestic poultry. The risk of a human contracting the disease from a wild bird is remote, unless there was excessive close contact with infected birds and their excreta.
3. It is not yet clear whether wild birds are spreading the disease, but even if they are, we believe that culls of wild birds are highly unlikely to stop the spread. This view is shared by the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and World Organisation for Animal Health. Indeed, culls have the potential to make the situation worse by dispersing infected individuals and stressing healthy birds, making them more prone to disease. Moreover, it would divert resources away from important disease control measures.
4. The most efficient control techniques involve improved biosecurity, primarily of the poultry industry, to reduce the likelihood of contact between domestic stock and wild birds or infected water sources. This needs to be coupled with swift and complete culls of infected poultry flocks in the event of an outbreak. Further measures that should be considered include stricter controls on wild bird markets, and movements of domestic poultry. Such measures should be introduced worldwide. Countries currently free of the disease should consider a ban on imports of domestic poultry and wild birds for the pet trade from affected regions. Preventing public access to infected sites is also clearly a sensible precaution.
5. We fully recognise the potential for a human pandemic should the current viral strain increase its transmissibility through mutation or reassortment, thus facilitating human to human transfer of the disease. We also recognise the impact the current strain is having on local economies forced into culls of domestic flocks.
6. In addition to the impact of the disease on economics and livelihoods, and the potential impacts for human health, there are potential implications for conservation. For instance, it is estimated that somewhere between 5% and 10% of the world population of the bar-headed goose Anser indicus perished in the recent outbreak in China.
7. Although there is a theoretical risk that migrating birds could bring H5N1 to the UK (swans, ducks and waders from Siberia), at present, we consider that risk to be small, and even if this were to occur, the risk to humans would be negligible.

Notes:
a. The World Heath Organization (WHO), The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) all concur that “the control of avian influenza infection in wild bird populations is not feasible and should not be attempted.”
(http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_08_18/en/index.html)
b. Species which come to UK from Russia include the following, although most birds breeding in affected areas will be migrating further south and east of the UK: Bewick’s swan, white-fronted goose, brent goose, mallard, teal, pintail, pochard, wigeon, shoveler, tufted duck, bar-tailed godwit, grey plover, lapwing and dunlin.
c. The risk of infected birds arriving in UK will depend on what proportion of the breeding population has come into contact with the infection, the transmission rate of the virus and the likelihood that an infected individual could undertake a long-distance migration. Currently these factors are difficult to quantify.

[Blonde Goddess]

lol david

[Olga]

THE Ministry of Health issued guidelines for people travelling to areas affected by bird or avian flu.

“The public are urged to avoid visiting markets or poultry farms and to avoid contact with live poultry.

“People should also avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be polluted with the excrement of poultry or other animals.

“When consuming poultry, it should be ensured that it is cooked meticulously in high temperatures. (Answer for your question, Sotos)

“The careful and frequent cleaning of hands with soap and water or with an alcoholic antiseptic is the most important and recommended preventive measure.

“The Medical Services, in co-operation with the Health Ministry, are in continuous contact with the European Union, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Suitable preventive measures will be taken if deemed necessary.”