Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Contact a key to avian flu
19 September 2006
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/manawatustandard/0,2106,3802460a6505,00.html
Backyard and lifestyle block poultry owners are being warned that in the event of avian flu reaching New Zealand, they should not handle dead or sick birds.
``The only risk of getting bird flu is through very close contact,'' says Massey University senior lecturer in veterinary epidemiology Mark Stevenson.
MidCentral Health's pandemic planning team, charged with preparing for any potential outbreak of avian flu has asked Dr Stevenson for advice for anyone with backyard poultry.
Avian-type influenza has now been found in more than 60 countries, with 241 cases in humans and 141 deaths.
As well as not handling any sick and dead birds, Dr Stevenson says anyone noticing dead birds must tell Biosecurity New Zealand. He and his team surveyed backyard poultry in the region in April.
The team found three of 100 households have poultry. The survey covered Palmerston North to Ashhurst and included rural and urban dwellers.
If avian flu does come to New Zealand, Dr Stevenson advised anyone with backyard or block poultry to house the birds to avoid contact with wild birds and potential exposure to avian flu.
The key to keeping avian flu out of commercial flocks is for people in the poultry industry not to have backyard poultry.
Exposure to the flu from ducks in the park is a low risk he says, but it would be advisable if avian flu reaches New Zealand, for the public not to handle these birds.
``Ducks can be infected and not show any signs of the disease, whereas hens pretty quickly show signs of diseases. So ducks are a particular problem and able to spread the virus quite easily,'' Dr Stevenson says.
Pet birds such as budgies should not catch avian flu if they're separated from wild birds, wild bird faeces or other infected pet birds.
Biosecurity has an emergency pest and disease hotline at 0800-809-966.
19 September 2006
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/manawatustandard/0,2106,3802460a6505,00.html
Backyard and lifestyle block poultry owners are being warned that in the event of avian flu reaching New Zealand, they should not handle dead or sick birds.
``The only risk of getting bird flu is through very close contact,'' says Massey University senior lecturer in veterinary epidemiology Mark Stevenson.
MidCentral Health's pandemic planning team, charged with preparing for any potential outbreak of avian flu has asked Dr Stevenson for advice for anyone with backyard poultry.
Avian-type influenza has now been found in more than 60 countries, with 241 cases in humans and 141 deaths.
As well as not handling any sick and dead birds, Dr Stevenson says anyone noticing dead birds must tell Biosecurity New Zealand. He and his team surveyed backyard poultry in the region in April.
The team found three of 100 households have poultry. The survey covered Palmerston North to Ashhurst and included rural and urban dwellers.
If avian flu does come to New Zealand, Dr Stevenson advised anyone with backyard or block poultry to house the birds to avoid contact with wild birds and potential exposure to avian flu.
The key to keeping avian flu out of commercial flocks is for people in the poultry industry not to have backyard poultry.
Exposure to the flu from ducks in the park is a low risk he says, but it would be advisable if avian flu reaches New Zealand, for the public not to handle these birds.
``Ducks can be infected and not show any signs of the disease, whereas hens pretty quickly show signs of diseases. So ducks are a particular problem and able to spread the virus quite easily,'' Dr Stevenson says.
Pet birds such as budgies should not catch avian flu if they're separated from wild birds, wild bird faeces or other infected pet birds.
Biosecurity has an emergency pest and disease hotline at 0800-809-966.
