UAE - Infected falcons rumour dismissed

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   Rumours of infected falcons dismissed

By Atef Hanafi 

8 February 2006

ABU DHABI � Environmental authorities in the UAE have brushed aside 

rumours that two of the 37 falcons culled in Saudi Arabia recently 

because of bird flu were originally from the UAE.

Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the National Committee for 

Emergency Response to the Bird Flu, said that in accordance with the 

provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), all falcons in the UAE have 

international 'passports'. "If the falcons were really from the UAE, then 

they would have had the ID numbers and electronic chips which would 

have revealed where they came from", said Al Mansouri.

According to him, these birds left the UAE in September 2005 during the 

hunting exhibition and since no official documents were made for them, 

it means they were not registered in the UAE. "If the incubation period for 

the bird flu virus is 21 days, then how could the virus be discovered after 

four months?", he pointed out. "It is necessary to know when the falcons 

entered Saudi Arabia, and who brought them in, as well as the veterinary 

quarantine through which they were checked and passed before 

announcing any news in regard," Al Mansouri said. The Saudi Ministry of 

Agriculture should be contacted to get full information about the issue 

before a comprehensive statement can be made, he said.

 http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/th euae/2006/February/theuae_February239.xml§ion=theuae&col =

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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: UAE - Infected falcons rumour dismissed Posted: February 07 2006 at 10:51pm
	Rumours of infected falcons dismissed By Atef Hanafi 8 February 2006 ABU DHABI � Environmental authorities in the UAE have brushed aside rumours that two of the 37 falcons culled in Saudi Arabia recently because of bird flu were originally from the UAE. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the National Committee for Emergency Response to the Bird Flu, said that in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), all falcons in the UAE have international 'passports'. "If the falcons were really from the UAE, then they would have had the ID numbers and electronic chips which would have revealed where they came from", said Al Mansouri. According to him, these birds left the UAE in September 2005 during the hunting exhibition and since no official documents were made for them, it means they were not registered in the UAE. "If the incubation period for the bird flu virus is 21 days, then how could the virus be discovered after four months?", he pointed out. "It is necessary to know when the falcons entered Saudi Arabia, and who brought them in, as well as the veterinary quarantine through which they were checked and passed before announcing any news in regard," Al Mansouri said. The Saudi Ministry of Agriculture should be contacted to get full information about the issue before a comprehensive statement can be made, he said. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/th euae/2006/February/theuae_February239.xml§ion=theuae&col =

SaveTheFalcons Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: February 08 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote SaveTheFalcons Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 08 2006 at 7:55pm
	I have opened a new page on the subject of Middle East falconry as a vector/venue for spreading Avian Flu. I invite you to join in at the following URL: http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1348&PN= 1
	Alan Howell Parrot, for the Union for the Conservation of Raptors

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 08 2006 at 7:58pm
	Alan, thanks very much, .