Spring Migration Raises Pandemic Risk

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   World: Bird Flu Continues To Spread, Raising Risk 

Of Human Pandemic

Monday, 13 February 2006

Scientists fear migratory birds could spread the virus to new areas in the 

spring

(AFP)

New outbreaks of bird flu (avian influenza) have been detected in several 

countries, including Azerbaijan, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, and Nigeria. The 

continued rapid spread of the disease and its appearance for the first 

time in Africa greatly worries scientists. It means containment efforts 

have been unsuccessful and the risk of a pandemic that could strike 

humans continues to grow.

PRAGUE, 13 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Scientists' worst fears are being 

realized as bird flu continues to spread in Europe and has gained a new 

foothold in Africa.

On 10 February, Italian Health Minister Francesco Storace told a news 

conference in Rome that swans in several southern Italian regions had 

died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has proven potentially 

dangerous to humans.

"The news is that, even if there are continuous changes regarding the 

number of the dead animals, we were informed that about 17 dead swans 

were found in three Italian regions," Storace said. "The regions are Puglia, 

Calabria, and Sicily, where the disease is more diffused."

Greece's Agriculture Ministry also confirmed swan deaths in the north of 

the country from H5N1, meaning the virus has now breached the EU�s 

internal borders. In recent weeks, there have been outbreaks in Turkey, 

with several human deaths, as well as bird deaths in Azerbaijan and 

Bulgaria.

Spring Migration Major Concern

The fact that swans are dying in Europe indicates a new wave of bird flu, 

carried by migratory fowl such as ducks, could be about to hit the 

continent, with the coming of spring. "It�s definitely of concern," 

explained Albert Osterhaus, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center in 

Rotterdam. 

"If we see what is happening in Europe at this moment, I think we have to 

be worried," Osterhaus added. "We see dead swans and we know that 

swans are highly susceptible [to H5N1>. And they share their ponds, the 

places where they swim, with other birds as well that are less susceptible, 

for instance ducks. And they might have actually infected the swans, so I 

think we have to be prepared in Europe, especially since the bird 

migration is about to start."

That migration will be in full force within a month, when hundreds of 

millions of birds return from their wintering grounds in Africa to Europe 

and parts of Asia. (EXCERPT)

 http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/02/1647543d-eef0-4 ed5-b8b1-53c7f641286d.html

Edited by Rick

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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: Spring Migration Raises Pandemic Risk Posted: February 13 2006 at 7:32am
	World: Bird Flu Continues To Spread, Raising Risk Of Human Pandemic Monday, 13 February 2006 Scientists fear migratory birds could spread the virus to new areas in the spring (AFP) New outbreaks of bird flu (avian influenza) have been detected in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, and Nigeria. The continued rapid spread of the disease and its appearance for the first time in Africa greatly worries scientists. It means containment efforts have been unsuccessful and the risk of a pandemic that could strike humans continues to grow. PRAGUE, 13 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Scientists' worst fears are being realized as bird flu continues to spread in Europe and has gained a new foothold in Africa. On 10 February, Italian Health Minister Francesco Storace told a news conference in Rome that swans in several southern Italian regions had died of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has proven potentially dangerous to humans. "The news is that, even if there are continuous changes regarding the number of the dead animals, we were informed that about 17 dead swans were found in three Italian regions," Storace said. "The regions are Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily, where the disease is more diffused." Greece's Agriculture Ministry also confirmed swan deaths in the north of the country from H5N1, meaning the virus has now breached the EU�s internal borders. In recent weeks, there have been outbreaks in Turkey, with several human deaths, as well as bird deaths in Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. Spring Migration Major Concern The fact that swans are dying in Europe indicates a new wave of bird flu, carried by migratory fowl such as ducks, could be about to hit the continent, with the coming of spring. "It�s definitely of concern," explained Albert Osterhaus, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. "If we see what is happening in Europe at this moment, I think we have to be worried," Osterhaus added. "We see dead swans and we know that swans are highly susceptible [to H5N1>. And they share their ponds, the places where they swim, with other birds as well that are less susceptible, for instance ducks. And they might have actually infected the swans, so I think we have to be prepared in Europe, especially since the bird migration is about to start." That migration will be in full force within a month, when hundreds of millions of birds return from their wintering grounds in Africa to Europe and parts of Asia. (EXCERPT) http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/02/1647543d-eef0-4 ed5-b8b1-53c7f641286d.html Edited by Rick

Corn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: December 13 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1219	Post Options Post Reply Quote Corn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2006 at 4:43am
	Walked out on my porch this AM and look up to see usual flock of 2 Canadian Geese heading East here in Louisiana. And another flock of medium sized dark colored birds heading south. Is it me or do the flocks seem smaller this year? Edited by Corn
	Speculation is the only tool we have with a threat that can circle the globe in 30 days. Test results&news is slow.Factor in human conditions,politics, money&bingo!The truth!Facts come after the fact.

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: February 14 2006 at 11:52am
	I saw Canadian Geese flying this AM, made me smile, then I remembered about the BF :(. Poor birds....

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: February 14 2006 at 12:51pm
	We often have them stay over here if it's not too cold and we have had a very mild winter. Don't seem as many as other years. But maybe I am projecting.

plainsman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: February 14 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 177	Post Options Post Reply Quote plainsman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2006 at 1:10pm
	The Canada Geese winter here in West Texas. We have lots of playa lakes. I wonder about next winter. They will be mixing with Asian geese in Alaska this summer while breeding. I reckon they'll bring H5N1 back with them in November.

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: February 14 2006 at 1:19pm
	All I can do is watch for the geese and robins to return here and see how they are....but in the mean time..I have not seen to many birds here at all this winter..we usually have good ole blacks crows and seagulls...a few that stay behind and also...towards the lake is an apartment building usually some birds there, this year nothing...

Corn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: December 13 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1219	Post Options Post Reply Quote Corn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 14 2006 at 5:28pm

	Speculation is the only tool we have with a threat that can circle the globe in 30 days. Test results&news is slow.Factor in human conditions,politics, money&bingo!The truth!Facts come after the fact.