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| Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Kenya: Dead chicikens & Crows |
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 Topic: Kenya: Dead chicikens & CrowsPosted: February 21 2006 at 1:11pm |
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The Nation (Nairobi)
NEWS February 21, 2006 Posted to the web February 21, 2006 Nairobi, Kenya Experts are still collecting samples from birds and chickens that have died for unknown causes, to establish whether it was as a result of the avian flu. The latest deaths were of five birds--all crows whose carcasses were foundyesterday near the Karatina Railway Station. Central provincial director of veterinary services, Dr Fredrick Gisemba, told area residents not to panic as there were no indications that the birds could have died from the flu. "We are soon going to be out of danger as most of the birds are now migrating to the North," said Dr Gisemba. The assurance came even as a special multi-disciplinary team continues to collect samples of blood, droppings and throat swabs from migratory birds in different parts of the country. The samples are being tested for the flu at Veterinary Laboratories in Kabete, Nairobi. Speaking to the Nation, assistant director of veterinary services, Dr Catherine Wanjohi, said that by yesterday, more than 300 samples had tested negative for bird flu. "However, poultry keepers should remain vigilant following an outbreak of bird flu in Nigeria last week," said Dr Wanjohi. Kenya Medical Research Institute's director, Davy Koech, warned that following the first reported outbreak of the deadly strain in Africa, others were likely to occur unless steps were taken to prevent them. Yesterday, Dr Wanjohi said: "Large-scale poultry keepers and those keeping domestic chickens should ensure they are caged at all times to ensure they do not mix with wild birds, especially in swamps and other water spots." People should also report any mysterious deaths of birds or chickens to pilot numbers 0722 726 682 or 020631639," said Dr Wanjohi. http:// allafrica.com/stories/200602210992.html">URL=http://allafric a.com/ stories/200602210992.html">http:// allafrica.com/stories/200602210992.html Edited by Rick |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:23pm |
Look for excellent map posted by Tomek, showing where these birds nest. http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html? NewsID=3402524&PageNum=0 Edited by Rick |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:29pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:32pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:37pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:39pm |
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How many other places as well I wonder!!
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:45pm |
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And, while circumstantial evidence suggests to Klosenski that the sport seems to be gaining in popularity, he doubted that hunters were responsible for a reported drop in crow numbers. More likely, West Nile virus is the reason for the bird's decline. Last month, The Washington Post reported that a dip in crow numbers has been detected by Audubon Society chapters and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, N.Y., and West Nile virus is believed to be the cause. Southern Maine biologist Scott Lindsay said that while West Nile virus has been found in crows tested in York and Cumberland counties, hunters needn't fear being infected with the virus by the birds. People have not been found to become infected with West Nile by crows, but rather from the mosquito carrying the disease, Lindsay said. Dead crows found on the road are a sign the disease is in the area. Still, Lindsay said it is always a safe practice when hunting to use latex gloves to handle any kill. The migratory bird is hunted in Maine for a total of 124 days in a split season that runs through February and March in southern Maine; from Feb. 15 to April 15 in northern Maine; and through August and September statewide. MAINTODAY.COM http://outdoors.mainetoday.com/news/060219fleming.shtml |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:48pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:55pm |
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Dead birds generate mystery in Chadwicks
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006 Elizabeth Cooper Observer-Dispatch CHADWICKS — Laura Petrilli was shoveling snow Friday when she spotted a bird flying erratically above her. Suddenly, it faltered and fell to the ground. Moments after she picked it up, it died. "I had her in my hand, and I saw her take a big deep breath and she dies," Petrilli said. "I looked over and my husband said, 'There's another one over here.'" That starling was the first of more than 65 of the birds she found dead on her property over the weekend. Some of her neighbors said they also found dead birds on their land. It turns out the dead birds were the result of a federal Department of Agriculture program to reduce the starling population on farms. Starlings can transmit diseases to livestock through their droppings, agency officials said. While finding the dead birds was a disturbing experience for Petrilli and several of her neighbors, Edward Collins, the owner of a dairy farm on Elm Street, said it was necessary. "They're robbing us blind," he said of the starlings. "They're eating over a ton of (cow) feed a day. There were thousands of birds here, making a mess of the barn and thecows." In the starling reduction program, agency personnel lace grain with poison and place it in an area where they know starlings will see and eat it. They then watch closely to make sure no other birds eat the grain, said Richard Chipman, the agency's New York state director. "It's a very standard process," Chipman said, adding that the poison poses no danger to people who touch the dead birds or any pets or other animals that might try to eat them. It takes between 24 and 48 hours for the birds to die from the poison, he said. Chipman said the birds usually die on the farms where they are poisoned, but occasionally they roost elsewhere, and that's when neighbors notice. Petrilli said she has a hedge row where she often saw birds, and now she doesn't see any there. She also said there was a dead hawk among the birds on her property, and she feared it might have eaten one of the poisoned birds. Chipman, however, said it was unlikely the poison killed the hawk, since the starling's metabolize the poison quickly, so a predator wouldn't be affected. Petrilli said she likes having a farm next door and wants their business to do well, but she also wants the neighborhood to be environmentally safe. "I worry about chemicals and poisons," she said. "There's a lot of little kids around here." Chipman said the Petrillis and their neighbors could safely dispose of the dead starlings themselves. John Dunn, Oneida County's interim director of environmental health, said anyone disposing of the birds should wear gloves or use a tool when picking them up to avoid contact with any germs or parasites. Petrilli wondered why starlings had to be poisoned, while crows infesting the city of Utica were simply driven out. Chipman said since starlings were not a native species, they fall under different rules. Collins said he just wants the birds gone. "We're trying to make a living milking cows and selling milk, not feeding birds," he said. http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060215/N EWS/602150305/1001 |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 1:58pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 2:01pm |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 2:06pm |
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Test results due today on dead birds
"No reason to panic" Feb 9, 2006 Visitors to BREC's Highland Road Park discovered hundreds of dead birds littering the ground Wednesday morning. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is working to determine the cause. VIDEO: Hundreds of birds found dead at BR park Hundreds of birds dead at BR park The preliminary results of an necropsy today should give state and parish officials some indication if 200 female, red-winged blackbirds found dead in an open field at BREC’s Highland Road Park were poisoned. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation and Park Commission are trying to determine what killed the birds first found Tuesday evening at the park, 14042 Highland Road east of Siegen Lane, BREC announced Wednesday. Sam Winslow, head curator at BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, said the cause of death could be attributed to a number of factors, including temperature changes. Red-winged blackbirds are a common species in south Louisiana that usually inhabit swamp and marsh terrains, Winslow said. Birds of this species tend to group together by gender during the winter. Chris Macaluso, a BREC spokesman, said four specimens were taken to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for examination while the rest were incinerated. While preliminary results will be available today, Macaluso said a definitive report will take up to four weeks. The birds could have died as a result of poisoning — intentional and unintentional, officials said. Here are some reasons: Food poisoning is one of the most-common causes of mass bird kills, according to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The birds could have eaten rotting fruit and berries that fermented and contained toxic levels of bacteria. Park Operations Director Bob Epperson said BREC does not use any herbicidal treatments or fertilizers in the park, but several fire-ant mounds had been treated recently using an over-the-counter product named Killabug II, which contains the chemical pyrmethrin. Epperson said the chemical is a common pesticide used in a variety of insect-killing products found in hardware stores. The chemical was contained in yellow-colored granules, which were sprinkled on top of the fire ant mounds. Farmers and landowners can receive permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to poison birds that are deemed crop depredators, said Eric Baka, a Department of Wildlife and Fisheries non-game biologist. Killing a migratory bird not covered by a hunting season, however, would be a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, he said. Wildlife and Fisheries officials are reviewing records with the USDA to determine if any local landholders or farmers have poisoning permits. Richard Gibbons, coordinator for the Louisiana Bird Resource Center at LSU, said if poison is the cause, he thinks it is more likely to be accidental than intentional. “If it turns out it was fire-ant bait, it’s one more piece of information that we need to really understand our local environment, Gibbons said. “We just need to be more aware of what the effects of our actions are.” BREC spokeswoman Kristi Barnett said the agency will routinely check the park over the next few days for more dead birds. Macaluso said the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also is considering epidemiological causes. While avian flu has been eliminated as a possible cause, the department has not ruled out the West Nile virus, he said. There is no reason for anyone to panic, Baka said. “We get an incident like this two to three times a year” he said. “Most of the time it involves crows and blue jays and that is more diagnostic of West Nile (virus).” A brown-headed cowbird was found among the red-winged blackbirds, Baka said. He admitted it is “a little bit unusual case, but nothing that unusual that we would take any drastic measures.” In the event the deaths were due to some form of virus, Wildlife and Fisheries would refer the case to the parish health unit. “They would probably initiate some further sampling of live birds,” Baka said. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2282641.html |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 2:08pm |
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7425734p-7336825c.html (EXCERPT) |
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Posted: February 21 2006 at 2:21pm |
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