CHINA - Bird Flu "uncontrolled"

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    Uncontrolled bird flu in China has seeded 

outbreaks in Vietnam and beyond: study (excerpt)

TORONTO (CP) - Genetic analysis of H5N1 avian flu viruses collected from 

wild and domestic birds in China suggests the virus has spread in 

uncontrolled fashion in southern China for the past decade, igniting 

outbreaks in Vietnam on at least three occasions and triggering spread of 

the worrisome virus across Russia to eastern Europe, a study released 

Monday suggests.

The study also provides what could be a smoking gun in the heated 

dispute about whether migratory birds are actually playing a role in 

moving the virus across the globe. A number of wildlife experts have 

insisted migratory birds are not to blame, but this study contends genetic 

analysis shows there can be no other explanation.

"I've spent most of my life working with wild birds and I'm sympathetic. 

But you can't hide the facts that wild birds are most probably involved in 

the spread of this thing now," said leading avian influenza expert Dr. 

Robert Webster, one of the authors of the paper.

Webster and his co-authors - researchers from institutions in China, 

Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia - argue the only way to minimize the 

damage done by the virus and reduce the risk it poses to human health is 

by addressing the problem at the virus's birthplace, in the poultry flocks 

of southern China.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?

 pageID=ontario_home&articleID=2163456

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: CHINA - Bird Flu "uncontrolled" Posted: February 06 2006 at 4:11pm
	Uncontrolled bird flu in China has seeded outbreaks in Vietnam and beyond: study (excerpt) TORONTO (CP) - Genetic analysis of H5N1 avian flu viruses collected from wild and domestic birds in China suggests the virus has spread in uncontrolled fashion in southern China for the past decade, igniting outbreaks in Vietnam on at least three occasions and triggering spread of the worrisome virus across Russia to eastern Europe, a study released Monday suggests. The study also provides what could be a smoking gun in the heated dispute about whether migratory birds are actually playing a role in moving the virus across the globe. A number of wildlife experts have insisted migratory birds are not to blame, but this study contends genetic analysis shows there can be no other explanation. "I've spent most of my life working with wild birds and I'm sympathetic. But you can't hide the facts that wild birds are most probably involved in the spread of this thing now," said leading avian influenza expert Dr. Robert Webster, one of the authors of the paper. Webster and his co-authors - researchers from institutions in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia - argue the only way to minimize the damage done by the virus and reduce the risk it poses to human health is by addressing the problem at the virus's birthplace, in the poultry flocks of southern China. http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do? pageID=ontario_home&articleID=2163456 Edited by Rick