• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

Bird Flu Research Targets Hunters

tropical

Well-known member
From BFBN, FW,..., webs (maybe Denise work at the testing now ;) ):
http://birdflunewsflash.wordpress.com/

Alaskan Hunter’s Blood tested for Bird Flu Virus

The blood of 200 Anchorage-area sport hunters who have handled wild fowl in the past two years is to be tested for the H5N1 virus.

-
-

Dr. Michael Bruce, principal investigator for the study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the rresearchers will be searching for the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu as well as low-pathogenic strains of influenza in the blood collected from the Alaskan hunters.
- - -

“”Some of the birds that fly through Asia fly through Alaska, so we theorized that if anyone is at risk in Alaska, it would be the hunters,” Dr. Bruce said.
- - -

The study involves people from across the state who may have contracted avian influenza by different means, he said. It calls for a sample of 400 subsistence hunters, 200 sport hunters, 75 wildlife biologists and researchers and a control group of 200 people who have not handled wild birds.
- - -
People who have been infected with avian influenza in the past will have developed antibodies that show up in the blood, Bruce said.
- - -
The study — done in partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. — could show experts where people are contracting influenza, what precautions should be taken when handling wild fowl, and how easily the viruses are transmitted to people. The study also seeks to establish the current degree of transmission as a benchmark for future studies, Bruce said.
- - -
“Even if we don’t find any antibodies to any avian influenza, I think it gives us at least a good baseline,” he said.
- - -
Hunters in the Anchorage area — from Girdwood to Wasilla — who have hunted and handled birds in the past two years are eligible to give their blood and answer some questions, a process that will take about 15 minutes. So far, about 80 hunters have given blood and the CDC needs about 120 more.
- - -
Interested?
- -
Contact the CDC at 729-3400. Participants will be paid $25.
Sources:
James Halpin, writing for Anchorage Daily News
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/313474.html
www.farmlandpheasant.com
www.birdflubreakingnews.com






A study of the spread of avian influenza has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeking the blood of 200 Anchorage-area sport hunters who have handled wild fowl in the past two years.Researchers will be searching for the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu as well as low-pathogenic strains of influenza, said Dr. Michael Bruce, principal investigator for the study.
The H5N1 strain has not been detected in the United States and Bruce doesn’t expect to find it here. But low-pathogenic strains of bird flu could pop up, and studying how people contract them will help researchers understand the risk factors that led to exposure, he said.
“Some of the birds that fly through Asia fly through Alaska, so we theorized that if anyone is at risk in Alaska, it would be the hunters,” Bruce said.
The study involves people from across the state who may have contracted avian influenza by different means, he said. It calls for a sample of 400 subsistence hunters, 200 sport hunters, 75 wildlife biologists and researchers and a control group of 200 people who have not handled wild birds.
People who have been infected with avian influenza in the past will have developed antibodies that show up in the blood, Bruce said.
The study — done in partnership with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. — could show experts where people are contracting influenza, what precautions should be taken when handling wild fowl, and how easily the viruses are transmitted to people. The study also seeks to establish the current degree of transmission as a benchmark for future studies, Bruce said.
“Even if we don’t find any antibodies to any avian influenza, I think it gives us at least a good baseline,” he said.
Anchorage residents who have hunted and handled birds in the past two years are eligible to give their blood and answer some questions, a process that will take about 15 minutes. So far, about 80 hunters have given blood and the CDC needs 120 more.

February 13, 2008 <!-- at 10:38 pm -->Posted by birdflunewsflash | Avian Flu, Bird Flu, CDC, CIDRAP |
 
Re: Bird Flu Research Targets Hunters

Another group to test would be the predators. They would have consumed dead birds. Examples: coyotes, bears, eagles, ravens, etc.

.
 
Re: Bird Flu Research Targets Hunters

I cross posted the article to the hunting dog forums I frequent. There are a lot of Alaska natives on these forums. Perhaps it will generate more awareness in a community that pretty much has it's head in the sand on BF.

Snick
 
Re: Bird Flu Research Targets Hunters

"There are a lot of Alaska natives on these forums"

Clarification: 'these forums' refers to the dog hunting forums, and not FleTrackers. I have no idea where members here reside.

Snick
 
Back
Top