Seagull droppings could spread B.F.

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   Seagull droppings 'could give bird flu to humans'

Mar 8 2006

Western Mail

SEAGULLS could bring bird flu to the UK, a veterinary expert believes.

But official advice in Wales is that people should not be alarmed about 

contracting the deadly disease from the droppings of gulls nesting on or 

near their homes.

Bob McCracken, former president of the British Veterinary Association, 

said scientists were unable to predict the course of the H5N1 virus 

because it was unlike previous types of avian influenza.

Some gulls roam over large areas and could bring the disease to Britain 

before the next major migration from the east.

"We've been concentrating on migratory birds. Autumn will probably be 

the next bad time," he told the Western Mail yesterday.

"But the other thing we have to remember is that resident birds also have 

quite a range. You're not talking about one or two miles. Some may fly 

maybe 100 miles within their territory. One has only to think of boat trips 

across the English Channel to realise that a number of those gulls can 

accompany the boats the whole journey.

"There's a worry that some birds that are capable of flying between France 

and England as part of their residential area could potentially bring this 

virus to our shores.

"It would be foolish to assume that nothing will happen until the autumn, 

when the (migratory) ducks come back.

"If the virus were to arrive here, I think we would find birds dying. We 

would have that early-warning system."

Thousands of Welsh people now live cheek-by-jowl with herring gulls and 

lesser black-backed gulls, which have moved to towns in search of food 

and nesting places.

Cardiff has more than 3,400 breeding pairs of gulls, second only to the 

fishing port of Aberdeen. Gull specialist Peter Rock says that at current 

growth rates the Welsh capital will have 10,000 pairs in the next 10 years, 

overtaking Aberdeen.

Smaller coastal towns also provide new habitats for gulls. In Llandudno, 

herring gulls are so used to humans they routinely snatch food from 

people's hands. Where gulls nest on rooftops, gull droppings are common 

around the garden and on windows, and homeowners often find 

droppings splattered over their cars. Some gulls will dive-bomb residents 

as a warning during nesting season.

Faeces is thought to be the main route for transmission of bird flu. Dr 

McCracken said people should avoid contact with gull droppings, for 

basic hygiene, but said it was unlikely humans would contract bird flu 

from the droppings.

"It needs intimate and protracted contact with infected birds before a man 

becomes infected," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Assembly Government said, "There is no 

cause for the public to be alarmed, as the risk to public health is very low. 

Avian flu is a disease that affects birds and we are fully prepared to cope 

with any outbreak.

"There is no firm evidence of the H5N1 virus easily passing between 

humans. Those who died of H5N1 in South East Asia were in very close 

personal contact with birds.

"It is thought that the flu can spread in these circumstances from bird to 

human through blood and faeces.

"Seagulls, like any birds, could be infected with avian flu. As with most 

wild birds, particularly water fowl, unnecessary contact should be 

avoided."

She said members of the public who noticed any significant groups of 

dead wild birds should inform the Department of Environment, Food and 

Rural Affairs on 08459 335577.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/health/

 tm_objectid=16785944&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=seagu ll-

 droppings--could---give---bird-flu-to-humans---name_page.htm l

------------

 March 2006

DEAD FLU SEAGULLS NEAR UK

TEN seagulls found dead a short distance from Britain had bird flu, it was 

revealed yesterday.

The birds, found near Boulogne last Thursday, were confirmed to have 

had the H5 strain of the disease.

Although H5 is not potentially lethal to humans, as H5N1 is, authorities 

are trying to avoid letting the strain into the country.

Fears are growing that unseasonably cold weather in northern France will 

force disease-ridden birds to migrate to Britain.

France, which is Europe's largest poultry exporter, last week confirmed a 

case of H5N1 at a farm - the first in the European Union.

This prompted more than 43 countries to impose curbs on French poultry 

products, including foie gras.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/

 tm_objectid=16778337&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=dead- flu-

seagulls-near-uk--name_page.html

-------------

Croatia finds H5N1 in swan and seagulls

14/03/2006 - 18:40:39

A swan found dead in eastern Croatia tested positive for the H5N1 strain 

of bird flu, authorities said today � bringing to three the number of 

regions in Croatia where the deadly virus has been detected since 

October.

Several seagulls also tested positive for H5N1, said the head of a state-

run Veterinarian Institute, Vladimir Savic.

The seagulls were among about 70 birds caught alive for testing in the 

southern Pantan ornithological reserve after a swan found dead there 

tested positive for the virus.

In eastern Croatia, the swan was discovered last week in the Baranja 

region, on the shores of the Danube River, which separates Croatia from 

neighbouring Serbia.

Tests conducted in Croatia showed it was infected with H5N1, Agriculture 

Ministry spokesman Mladen Pavic said.

Pavic said the swan was not part of a flock, and was believed to have 

come from another area, possibly Serbia or neighbouring Hungary, which 

also have recorded bird flu cases recently.

Croatia discovered its first H5N1 case in October in a dozen swans found 

dead in central Croatia. Last month, two other swans � found on a 

southern island and the nearby coastal Pantan reserve � also tested 

positive for H5N1.

http://www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?

j=11468214&p=yy468z6x&n=11468302

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Seagull droppings could spread B.F. Posted: March 16 2006 at 5:16am
	Seagull droppings 'could give bird flu to humans' Mar 8 2006 Western Mail SEAGULLS could bring bird flu to the UK, a veterinary expert believes. But official advice in Wales is that people should not be alarmed about contracting the deadly disease from the droppings of gulls nesting on or near their homes. Bob McCracken, former president of the British Veterinary Association, said scientists were unable to predict the course of the H5N1 virus because it was unlike previous types of avian influenza. Some gulls roam over large areas and could bring the disease to Britain before the next major migration from the east. "We've been concentrating on migratory birds. Autumn will probably be the next bad time," he told the Western Mail yesterday. "But the other thing we have to remember is that resident birds also have quite a range. You're not talking about one or two miles. Some may fly maybe 100 miles within their territory. One has only to think of boat trips across the English Channel to realise that a number of those gulls can accompany the boats the whole journey. "There's a worry that some birds that are capable of flying between France and England as part of their residential area could potentially bring this virus to our shores. "It would be foolish to assume that nothing will happen until the autumn, when the (migratory) ducks come back. "If the virus were to arrive here, I think we would find birds dying. We would have that early-warning system." Thousands of Welsh people now live cheek-by-jowl with herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls, which have moved to towns in search of food and nesting places. Cardiff has more than 3,400 breeding pairs of gulls, second only to the fishing port of Aberdeen. Gull specialist Peter Rock says that at current growth rates the Welsh capital will have 10,000 pairs in the next 10 years, overtaking Aberdeen. Smaller coastal towns also provide new habitats for gulls. In Llandudno, herring gulls are so used to humans they routinely snatch food from people's hands. Where gulls nest on rooftops, gull droppings are common around the garden and on windows, and homeowners often find droppings splattered over their cars. Some gulls will dive-bomb residents as a warning during nesting season. Faeces is thought to be the main route for transmission of bird flu. Dr McCracken said people should avoid contact with gull droppings, for basic hygiene, but said it was unlikely humans would contract bird flu from the droppings. "It needs intimate and protracted contact with infected birds before a man becomes infected," he said. A spokeswoman for the Welsh Assembly Government said, "There is no cause for the public to be alarmed, as the risk to public health is very low. Avian flu is a disease that affects birds and we are fully prepared to cope with any outbreak. "There is no firm evidence of the H5N1 virus easily passing between humans. Those who died of H5N1 in South East Asia were in very close personal contact with birds. "It is thought that the flu can spread in these circumstances from bird to human through blood and faeces. "Seagulls, like any birds, could be infected with avian flu. As with most wild birds, particularly water fowl, unnecessary contact should be avoided." She said members of the public who noticed any significant groups of dead wild birds should inform the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 08459 335577. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/health/ tm_objectid=16785944&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=seagu ll- droppings--could---give---bird-flu-to-humans---name_page.htm l ------------ March 2006 DEAD FLU SEAGULLS NEAR UK TEN seagulls found dead a short distance from Britain had bird flu, it was revealed yesterday. The birds, found near Boulogne last Thursday, were confirmed to have had the H5 strain of the disease. Although H5 is not potentially lethal to humans, as H5N1 is, authorities are trying to avoid letting the strain into the country. Fears are growing that unseasonably cold weather in northern France will force disease-ridden birds to migrate to Britain. France, which is Europe's largest poultry exporter, last week confirmed a case of H5N1 at a farm - the first in the European Union. This prompted more than 43 countries to impose curbs on French poultry products, including foie gras. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ tm_objectid=16778337&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=dead- flu- seagulls-near-uk--name_page.html ------------- Croatia finds H5N1 in swan and seagulls 14/03/2006 - 18:40:39 A swan found dead in eastern Croatia tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, authorities said today � bringing to three the number of regions in Croatia where the deadly virus has been detected since October. Several seagulls also tested positive for H5N1, said the head of a state- run Veterinarian Institute, Vladimir Savic. The seagulls were among about 70 birds caught alive for testing in the southern Pantan ornithological reserve after a swan found dead there tested positive for the virus. In eastern Croatia, the swan was discovered last week in the Baranja region, on the shores of the Danube River, which separates Croatia from neighbouring Serbia. Tests conducted in Croatia showed it was infected with H5N1, Agriculture Ministry spokesman Mladen Pavic said. Pavic said the swan was not part of a flock, and was believed to have come from another area, possibly Serbia or neighbouring Hungary, which also have recorded bird flu cases recently. Croatia discovered its first H5N1 case in October in a dozen swans found dead in central Croatia. Last month, two other swans � found on a southern island and the nearby coastal Pantan reserve � also tested positive for H5N1. http://www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp? j=11468214&p=yy468z6x&n=11468302

Elizabeth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: February 18 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 113	Post Options Post Reply Quote Elizabeth Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 16 2006 at 6:03am
	This is why I have been freaking out about seagulls and pigeons, let alone the other birds. Seagulls are everywhere where I am, and they fly around dropping their poop on everything. It was even on my car door handle the other day. I had to open my other side car door, get out my anti bacterial wipes (I know, not acohol based) and wipe it off before I could get in my car. Once BF gets to CA, the seagulls are going to be spreading it around.....

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: March 16 2006 at 6:08am
	Not only that seagulls..will eat anything..know first hand when we go fishing and catch a fish that does not make it..well we call them seagull bait...seagulls will even eat dead birds...yes stands to reason that they would become carriers of the disease...as all birds that are scavengers will become carriers....