ENGLAND - SWAN Deaths a mystery

Swan deaths still a mystery - 2:16   24/1/2006

Seventeen swans from Southport’s Marine Lake have now been reported
dead following a mystery illness.
Thirty-three swans have been taken from the lake so far to Stapely
Grange Wildlife Hospital. Sixteen are still alive but ill.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “Over the weekend and into the
beginning of this week we have continued to remove sick and dead swans
from the lake.

“At this time the cause of the deaths is still unknown. Tests for lead, zinc
and arsenic poisoning have come back negative – as have tests for avian
botulism. Tests for bacterial or viral infection in the water will now be
carried out.

“A conservative estimate suggests there are around 140 swans on the
lake.

“The RSPCA intends to concentrate its efforts on removing the sick birds.
As swans on the lake may be infectious, despite displaying no signs of
illness, it is not practical to remove any outwardly healthy birds.

John Golby, of Southport Swan Rescue, said: “I am out there for about 10
hours a day. It is heartbreaking pulling dead swans from the lake, but we
have no choice but to get on with it.

“The backing of the RSPCA on this is very much appreciated, and I pray
they find the cause soon.”

http://www.championline.net/newchamp/newsdesk/news_story.asp ?
id=4627

"Tests for bacterial or viral infection in the water will now be
carried out. " (England - dead swans)

I scratch my head when I hear that dozens of people where put
into special hospital isolation chambers, in the same country, a few
months earlier.

We'll have to wait for the results of the tests from 24/1/2006
in England. Since they ruled out chemical toxins, it must be either
bacterial and or viral? Time will tell.

* I think a Swan in Bulgaria was reported to have "hindleg paralysis"
   a red flag for H5. No other virus has been shown to cause this,
   according to the expert. They also mentioned removing sick British   
   swans which would suggest they were not moving in a normal fashion.
   It would be good to know if there was any hindleg paralysis and why.
   

Edited by Rick

Online Sun - Monday, February 6, 2006 - England

"TWENTY people have had urgent oxygen-tent treatment in Britain for
suspected bird flu, it emerged last night.They were treated in the past six
months as the bug spread from Asia to Turkey.

The patients were put in sealed oxygen chambers to isolate possible
contamination while they were assessed.

From the moment they entered hospital they were subject to special
measures. They were met at the doors after being sent by worried GPs
and ushered to isolation areas.

Medics in special masks, eye protection and gowns took blood samples
for analysis.

"The patients were then kept in the “negative pressure” oxygen chambers.

These have lower air pressure inside than out — stopping infections
escaping.All those tested for the H5N1 strain of bird flu were negative,
the Department of Health confirmed.

A spokeswoman said: “Since last June we have had 20 negatives, from
people visiting Vietnam, Thailand and China or people with families in
those areas. They will have felt unwell and gone to the doctor."

http://
www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006040257,00.html

Edited by Rick

"I dont see any way to link the swan deaths (or any other
UK birds) to the isolation cases really, and the only other reported UK
H5N1 incident "

If you read more in the coming days, you may change your opinion. What
this suggests to me is that the authorities were concerned, long before
the public knew. My question is, why that concern was not shared in light
of recent events. Many of the events unfolding currently, have as much to
do with politics and money, as they do with science and public health.

Read any postings about the Spanish Flu and responses by authorities to
gain some further insights.

The only foolish question, is no one that remains unasked.

Rick...I have a friend who lives in Southport England.  My husband and I visited her not to long ago and she drove us to some large body of water but I can't remember the name.  I am going to try to call her tonight when I get home from work to see what her take is on all this.

For sure I expect there to be coverups, denials, wishful thinking, panic prevention measures etc, and I expect H5N1 will end up in birds in the UK if it isnt already here. But that doesnt mean Im going to go joining every single dot, because that will surely create a picture as distorted as the opposite extreme from the WHO and others.

Its good to question, its fine to speculate, Ive been reading recombinomics stuff for ages and a lot of it makes sense and has been vindicated over time.

But that doesnt mean I see a direct link between the dead swans and the 20 people in isolation after visiting countries with endemic bird flu. The only links are that its the same country, the same disease.

So yeah I want to know more about the swans and their symptoms. I would have to assume for now that none of the 20 people actually had H5N1, even if the testing was unreliable, as there were no reported deaths. For sure I would like more information on how sick they were, and whether they were from one location in the UK or from all over the place.

When I said I was reassured, its because they were placed in isolation as a precaution, which shows that some GPs at least as prepared to 'think the unthinkable'.

Anyway Im not meaning to have a go at you, just trying to walk a fine line between complacency and scaremongering. Yes politics & money can get in the way of humanity tackling the problem properly, but public health wont benefit from prematurely declaration of a pandemic either. Panic itself is enough to cause many of the societal and infrastructure problems that will jeopardise human life. So whilst the WHO & friends may announce far too late that the pandemic has arrived, I dont want to be party to making the equally bad mistake of announcing it before its actually arrived.