Mary Wilson
Well-known member
INDIA - Recent North American research has made the startling conclusion that several insects, particularly Musca domestica or the common housefly, are capable of carrying and transmitting Newcaslte Disease Virus and the highly pathogenic avian flu strain, H5N1, which is transmittable from animals to humans, writes Asit Jolly, Asian Age.
11 July 2007
British scientist, Terry Mabbett, reporting in a recent issue of Poultry International, says the new research findings must come as a big wake up call for the world's poultry industry.
"That the avian influenza (AI) virus can be spread by winged insects as well as wild birds underlines the need for efficient fly control on poultry farms along with other strict biosecurity measures," he says.
According to Mabbett, studies recently carried out at the North Carolina State University, adult houseflies were seen to carry infectious doses of the Newcaslte Disease Virus in their guts for up to three hours after feeding. This he says, "might be important for the spread of the virus when fly populations are high and in contact with highly virulent NDV strains." The scientist has also cited earlier reported instances of houseflies carrying avian influenza virus. A 1985 study based on a serious 1983/84 outbreak of H5N2 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania (USA) where nearly 90 per cent of the affected poultry stocks died.
More than a third of the housefly samples collected from the vicinity of the outbreak contained bird flu virus particles. ...
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2007/07/houseflies-can-spread-bird-flu-virus-study
11 July 2007
British scientist, Terry Mabbett, reporting in a recent issue of Poultry International, says the new research findings must come as a big wake up call for the world's poultry industry.
"That the avian influenza (AI) virus can be spread by winged insects as well as wild birds underlines the need for efficient fly control on poultry farms along with other strict biosecurity measures," he says.
According to Mabbett, studies recently carried out at the North Carolina State University, adult houseflies were seen to carry infectious doses of the Newcaslte Disease Virus in their guts for up to three hours after feeding. This he says, "might be important for the spread of the virus when fly populations are high and in contact with highly virulent NDV strains." The scientist has also cited earlier reported instances of houseflies carrying avian influenza virus. A 1985 study based on a serious 1983/84 outbreak of H5N2 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania (USA) where nearly 90 per cent of the affected poultry stocks died.
More than a third of the housefly samples collected from the vicinity of the outbreak contained bird flu virus particles. ...
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2007/07/houseflies-can-spread-bird-flu-virus-study