Bird flue?

[rb5037]

My wife told me i should be carefull when going shooting because of this bird flue thing that's come up again.

 

Told her that she was being silly and to carry on watching emerdale.

 

Now i'm thinking? Are we at risk? Hope not!

[taxidermy dave]

I think,if i remember rightly that its only in chickens.I dont think its much to worry about though(i hope )

[rb5037]

Someone else reasure me please

[Teal]

I read this:

 

"What surprises me is the official forecast that bird flu could kill up to 50,000 people in this country when the death rate of the present form is 76%. The authorities seem to be assuming that the spread of the infection can be controlled. I'm very sceptical. The 1918 outbreak had a death rate of 1% and killed about 150,000 I think, but perhaps someone has more accurate figures."

 

Not sure how accurate it is, but it is worrying!!

[dazza]

If there's an outbreak come over to Northern Ireland, theres no pigeons over here!

[dazza]

Found this

 

Another study published in 1996 on the susceptibility of pigeons to Avian Influenza, found that groups of pigeons inoculated with two strains of highly pathogenic influenza virus or two strains of non-pathogenic virus remained healthy during the 21-day trial period, did not shed virus, and did not develop antibodies to this disease - further evidence that pigeons are not a factor in the spread of this disease.

[jim_whitson]

Bird 'flu is a disease that's endemic in the East (as in China &c., not East Anglia ;-), amongst their population of appalingly mis-treated and -housed fowl. It seems to have recently mutated so that it can be transmitted to humans from fowl, and it's only a matter of time before it can move from human to human.

 

On average, there's a worldwide 'flu pandemic that kills lots of people every 30-50 years. The last one was in 1918, and killed more men than WW1 (25 million world wide). They always come from birds, it seems; the 1918 one was brought here with ducks!

 

So, we're overdue, and it looks like we know where it's coming from - that's what makes epidemiologists think it could be controlled better. But who knows...

 

Have a nice day! ;-P

 

 

And, to answer the actual question: by the time it gets here, it'll be a disease of humans; birds will play no part. And even if they do, it's only fowl (chickens this time, I beleive). No need to fear pigeon!

Edited March 3, 2005 by jim_whitson

[rb5037]

What about the pigeons

 

Are they going to carry the virus?

 

Think about it.

 

Mr free range chicken in the field in China and gets talking to Mr pigeon.

 

"Hay Mr pigeon, you want to go to the UK mate, they're not very good shots and you'll be safer there"

 

So off flys Mr pigeon and makes friends with the UK pigeons.

 

"hello Uk pigeons, i'm from China, cough, cough, not feeling to well at the momment, got any paracetamol, cough, cough."

 

There you go

 

It's over here now

 

 

:D

[jim_whitson]

Heheheheh. Judging by the quality of their rifles, the Chinese aren't very good shots either! ;-)

 

Be safe; don't shoot any pigeon you may see pulling rickshaws!

[kdubya]

the scientific estimate (not the govs) is 3% of the british population!! ie 2 million

and they seem to think its coming sooner rather than later? nothing to be sniffed at I feel. so if you get a sore throat, runny nose, etc, be afraid be very afraid.

cheers keith