Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Scientists still at a loss to explain spread of avian flu
Business Lorna Benson ? Apr 20, 2015
...
"It's been really troubling to understand how in the world this can possibly be happening," said Carol Cardona, a professor of avian medicine at the University of Minnesota.
A popular theory among many scientists suggests that wild waterfowl are depositing the virus across the landscape in their feces as they migrate north.
That's likely, Cardona said, as the virus has been detected in numerous wild ducks and geese, birds that can be infected with flu and not appear sick.
But Cardona said it's hard to fathom that waterfowl alone could explain such an unprecedented flu outbreak. She suspects another bird species is helping to spread the virus.
"This is so unusual that we can't help but think something different must be going on," she said.
...
Another theory suggests the viruses may have changed in a way that makes it easier for wild birds to catch and carry the poultry flu strains, avian flu researcher Ron Fouchier said.
"It's possible upon genetic mixing with wild bird viruses, these viruses have become more capable of spreading through wild birds," said Fouchier, a professor of molecular virology at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. "But this is something that's still under investigation."
...
Biosecurity mistakes are thought to be a likely method of disease introduction at many of the turkey farms. State and federal investigators also are looking at the possibility that strong spring winds could have made the flu problem worse ? at least in some locations.
Avian flu isn't typically spread across great distances by wind, but some researchers say it's possible the virus could have been blown into turkey buildings, if it was attached to field debris or feathers.
...
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/04/20/avian-flu
Business Lorna Benson ? Apr 20, 2015
...
"It's been really troubling to understand how in the world this can possibly be happening," said Carol Cardona, a professor of avian medicine at the University of Minnesota.
A popular theory among many scientists suggests that wild waterfowl are depositing the virus across the landscape in their feces as they migrate north.
That's likely, Cardona said, as the virus has been detected in numerous wild ducks and geese, birds that can be infected with flu and not appear sick.
But Cardona said it's hard to fathom that waterfowl alone could explain such an unprecedented flu outbreak. She suspects another bird species is helping to spread the virus.
"This is so unusual that we can't help but think something different must be going on," she said.
...
Another theory suggests the viruses may have changed in a way that makes it easier for wild birds to catch and carry the poultry flu strains, avian flu researcher Ron Fouchier said.
"It's possible upon genetic mixing with wild bird viruses, these viruses have become more capable of spreading through wild birds," said Fouchier, a professor of molecular virology at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. "But this is something that's still under investigation."
...
Biosecurity mistakes are thought to be a likely method of disease introduction at many of the turkey farms. State and federal investigators also are looking at the possibility that strong spring winds could have made the flu problem worse ? at least in some locations.
Avian flu isn't typically spread across great distances by wind, but some researchers say it's possible the virus could have been blown into turkey buildings, if it was attached to field debris or feathers.
...
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/04/20/avian-flu
