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Is the U.S. Looking in the Wrong Direction for the Avian Flu?
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ShareDecember 06, 2006 11:56 AM
While the U.S. has focused on Alaska as the most likely place where migratory birds could first bring the avian flu virus to the states, a new study suggests that it is more likely to come from the South. And so far, the U.S. has not focused its attention there.
The study, to be published later this week, suggests that the H5N1 avian influenza will most likely be brought to the Western Hemisphere through infected poultry to Central and South America and that "the subsequent movement of infected migrating birds from countries south of the U.S. would be a likely pathway for H5N1 avian influenza to reach the U.S.A."
The study was led by Dr. Marm Kilpatrick of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, along with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Smithsonian.
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According to Kilpatrick, while the U.S. has tight controls on poultry imports, such as a USDA 30-day quarantine and influenza testing, other countries in Central and South America do not have adequate controls. Kilpatrick and the others conclude that infected poultry would then contaminate migratory birds that would migrate to the U.S. from the South.
"Subsequent spread by the greater than 4 million migratory ducks, geese and swans," says the report, "from the south would then make introduction into the United States likely."
Kilpatrick says that he is concerned that U.S. efforts so far have focused on the virus coming down from the North.
"The South is certainly not the focus of our surveillance efforts right now, and that is somewhat surprising," he said.
A spokesman for the Fish & Wildlife Department, Nicholas Throckmorton, acknowledged today that surveillance efforts have focused mostly on Alaska and the Northwest, but he added that over the course of the year the understanding of the disease has become better and better.
Throckmorton said this study as well as others will be incorporated into the planning process for the 2007 surveillance program, which will begin shortly.
The study also concludes that tighter controls on poultry could help reduce the risk of spread.
"We conclude that the most effective strategy to prevent H5N1 from being introduced into the Western Hemisphere would be strict controls or a ban on the importation of poultry and wild birds into the Americas and stronger enforcement to curb illegal trade," said the report.
December 6, 2006 in Avian Flu | Permalink | User Comments (6)
Dear Mr. Ross,
In your investigation on the subject of Avian Flu, please look into the 'protocol' developed by Dr. David Moskowitz' research firm "Genomed, Inc. The firm has been effective with West Nile Virus in both persons & horses. I am a minor stockholder and have great expectations in Dr. Moskowitz' success plans. He is currently exposing his firm's progress to the Medical community.
I thought you might like to follow up your investigative report.
Posted by: Ferde Peltz | Dec 14, 2006 6:21:08 PM
It's not Mr. Ross; it's Maddy Sauer.
Posted by: Pixy | Dec 18, 2006 7:49:16 PM
Dear Mr. Ross.
I can appreciate the suggestion that we change our stance on the direction of bird flu into the US, but I saw no mention of the fact that illegal aliens coming up from Mexico could carry the virus and start a pandemic in America. I look at the border fence as more of a national security issue than an immigration issue.
As I look at Mexico and further south, I see living conditions not so different than some of the third world countries where people are becoming infected with H5N1. People living in less than hygienic conditions and in close proximity and even intimately with their livestock and poultry (I've seen the videos of cock-fighters sucking the mucous out of their birds beaks so the birds could continue to fight). What difference is there in living conditions between Vietnam and Mexico for example?
I see serious trouble brewing if and when the jump from bird to man were to start in Mexico. Because the illegal aliens are coming to the United States in droves already, what would it be like if they felt they were running for their lives? Running for America to try and escape the plague in Mexico they would inadvertently bring it to us and could spread it throughout states since they move around unfettered. Unlike the quarantine stations ready for such an eventuality at some of our international airports, there is no accountability when someone scurries across an open border unimpeded by laws or common sense.
Posted by: iwrote1 | Dec 19, 2006 7:57:39 AM
Dear Mr.Ross
I'm from Brazil and I know very much about South America as a former international tour guide.
I don't agree with the article about the "south direction for Avian Flu".
I explain:
Geographically is impossible a contaminated bird cross Central and touch down South America without pass over North America first.
The only bird able to do it is the Flamingo who emigrate from Africa to the Caribbean which we don't have any case of Avian Flu (maybe other diseases).
No Country from South America don't buy poultries from Asia or other continent (first they are self-suficient, second: in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile is forbidden to buy living animals from other countries except from members of the South Cone). Otherwise South America has as neighbors: Antartica (south), Atlantic Ocean (east), Pacific Ocean (west) and Central, Caribbean and North America (north).
Note: There is no cases, so far, of Avian Flu in the Amazon Rain Forest.
Respectfully
Alberto
Posted by: Alberto Barros | Feb 10, 2007 4:03:20 PM
Alberto brings up some good points. There are also a couple questions that I have never heard discussed. First if this flue kills so fast, just how far can or will a sick bird fly? Also if it is spread by wild birds why is it that the birds that are kept inside are so at risk? Could it be because the 'factory' birds (chickens) are less healthy to begin with due to their crowded conditions and their nearly identical genetic breeding? Could these two traits of 'factory' birds make them more likely to catch and spread bird flue then chickens with a more diverse genetic back ground who are raised in a more healthy and natural, less crowded environment?
Posted by: i wrote also | Apr 17, 2007 12:19:30 AM
While there has been some human-to-human spread of H5N1, it is limited and inefficient. Then immigration is probably not an issue.
Posted by: also | Apr 20, 2007 3:12:46 AM
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