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Avian Flu:
A Companion Bird Owner's Perspective
Before we think the
sky is falling,
we need to get the facts
By Terry Beaudoin,
Parrot Island
www.parrotislandinc.com
(Reprinted from CPQ
#69)
Concern versus
Alarmism
With all the publicity – from newspapers, television, the Internet, etc. — the
Avian Flu and the potential consequences of its spread have everyone, and
especially bird caregivers, very concerned. This potential pandemic may indeed
have dire future consequences as a disease for humanity, but what is the reality
in regards to companion parrots at this time?
The various forms of publicity mentioned above (and in particular–the internet)
have, in some cases, caused companion bird owners to wonder how long it might be
before their birds would be at risk. I have seen many instances of Internet chat
groups where one of the most repeated and responded to topics is that of
companion birds being taken from their homes to be euthanized as a method of
preventing or containing a breakout of the Avian Flu. Other people state that
their friends and relatives will no longer come to their homes because they have
birds. There is often a great deal of alarmism and paranoia every time there
appears to be any perceived threat to our parrots. However, it is important to
get the facts before we believe it when chicken little says, “the sky is
falling!”
The information in this article is specific to the H1N5 strain of Avian
Influenza Virus, which is the strain of “Avian Flu” virus that is currently of
the most concern to become a potential worldwide epidemic or a pandemic. Through
this article, using the most current information sources available at the time
of writing, I hope to clarify what may be the legitimate concerns and
precautions to take for companion bird owners.
How do Avian Influenza viruses spread among birds?
A number of different types of avian influenza viruses circulate among birds
worldwide. Certain types of birds, in particular waterfowl and shorebirds, act
as hosts for influenza viruses by carrying the virus in their digestive tracts
and then shedding it. Birds that are infected shed the virus in their saliva,
eye and nasal discharge, and feces. Other birds can become infected with avian
influenza virus when they are exposed to any of these when shed from infected
birds. Fecal-to-oral transmission is the most common way these viruses are
spread between birds.
For domesticated birds (companion birds, poultry, waterfowl, etc…) to
potentially become infected with an avian influenza virus they would need
exposure to infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or contact with any
surfaces (ground, cages, etc…) or food or water that have been contaminated.
Contaminated footwear and clothing worn by people working with infected poultry
or any of the equipment they use (including vehicles) are the most likely ways
for these viruses to spread from one location (flock of birds) to another.
How do people become infected?
Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects contaminated by
their feces, is presently considered the main route of human infection.
According to the most current information I could locate (as of 1/2/06) human
cases of H5N1 Avian Flu infection have occurred in rural or suburban areas where
many households keep small poultry flocks, which roam freely, sometimes entering
homes or sharing outdoor areas where children play. Infected birds shed large
quantities of virus in their feces; the likelihood for exposure to infected
droppings or to anything that has been contaminated by the virus is very high in
these situations.
Asia or parts of China are considered to be the locations with the highest
probability for a larger scale outbreak or epidemic to occur because so many of
the people there depend on poultry for income and food.
It is common practice
for these people to sell or slaughter and consume birds when signs of illness
appear in a flock. Even when health organizations have attempted to educate
people about the huge risks involved in these traditional practices they have
proved difficult to change. Human exposure is most likely during the slaughter, defeathering, butchering, and preparation of infected poultry for cooking.
Does the Avian Flu virus
spread easily from birds to humans?
Thankfully, it does not. Since December of 2003 there have been more than 100
human cases reported in the current outbreak, but considering the huge number of
birds affected and the numerous opportunities for human exposure in Asia and
China mentioned earlier, this is actually a very small number by comparison.
Has the Avian Flu spread from Human to Human?
At the time of this writing, the human-to-human spread of the H5N1 strain of
influenza virus has been extremely rare and has not continued beyond one person.
The scientists involved in studying and attempting to limit or stop the spread
of the H5N1 virus are concerned because of the tendency all influenza viruses
have to mutate and change. Because these types of viruses do not usually infect
humans we have developed little, if any, immune system response to them.
Currently a change would need to occur in the H5N1 avian influenza virus for it
to become easily transferable from human to human. Easy human-to-human transfer
is necessary for a virus to become a pandemic. A pandemic is an epidemic disease
that spreads over a wide geographic area and affects a large percentage of the
population.
What are legitimate
concernsfor companion bird owner?
It is currently thought that the most likely ways for the H5N1 Avian Influenza
virus to spread to the United States is via bird-to-bird transfer by waterfowl
or by importation of birds for the pet trade or the “sport” of fighting roosters
(cock-fighting). Keeping this in mind you should take precautions to prevent you
or your birds being exposed in any way to the saliva, eye and nasal discharge,
and especially the feces of waterfowl or poultry.
Companion bird owners usually have an interest in birds in general – including
the outdoor species many people (myself included) enjoy attracting to our yards
through the use of wild bird feeders. Wild bird feeding and watching are the
second largest hobby in this country (gardening is number one). So should we be
concerned about our exposure to these birds and stop trying to attract them?
I found a response to this question on the Internet by Walter Boyce and Carol
Cardona, the directors of the Wildlife Health Center at the University of
California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: “The type of avian influenza
causing problems in Asia (H5N1) is not present in North America. The risk that
wild birds found at bird feeders in the United States are carrying this Asian
strain is very small. There has never been a documented case of a person
becoming infected by contact with a wild bird. Most or all of the human cases in
Asia occurred because of very close contact with infected poultry.” If there are
eventual documented cases of backyard wild bird species carrying H5N1 Avian
Influenza it may mean keeping our birds totally indoors – this would certainly
be true if there is a reported outbreak in the United States.
There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against
H5N1 Avian Influenza virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However,
vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine
to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. Although they have
vaccinated many chickens in China (in November, 2005) they are unsure of its
effectiveness. Unfortunately, even if this “bird vaccine” is highly effective,
currently each dose of this vaccine needs to be manufactured from one pathogen
free egg. It is estimated that it would take about three years to produce enough
eggs for sufficient vaccine for the most affected areas of China alone (China
has over 5 billion high risk birds – most of which are kept in the backyard
flocks mentioned above).
Considering this, at this time it does not seem likely
that we will see a vaccine available to our local avian veterinarians and
therefore we will not be able to protect our birds in one of the best ways – at
least in the near future. If there were an outbreak of the H5N1 Avian Influenza
virus in the United States my recommendation would be to contact your avian
veterinarian, your personal physician and the local health department for
information as soon as possible.
On the subject of the government taking our birds from us as a way of preventing
spread of the Avian Flu during an actual outbreak in the United States:
1) Waterfowl and poultry are the primary carriers of this disease – I do
not think that the government will be concerned about the average persons’
companion birds – unless those birds are exposed to poultry or waterfowl.
Eradicating all the geese or ducks (which would be impossible — not that I would
recommend it anyway) would have far more effect than euthanizing household
companion birds. I do think getting detailed copies of your birds’ health
records from your avian veterinarian is a great idea — for your peace of mind if
nothing else.
2) For the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus to become a pandemic involving
humans (which is when the most radical methods of control might be tried) — it
would need to become easily transferable from human-to-human. This would mean
that the current strain of H5N1 (which does not easily transfer between humans)
would need to mutate and change — at this point it would no longer be considered
an Avian Influenza virus — it would be a Human Influenza virus and birds would
no longer be part of the equation. If this terrible situation occurs – exposure
to companion birds will be one of the last things anyone who is rational will be
worried about.
Practice Proper Prevention Protocol
Until the time a possible outbreak occurs in the United States, each of us must
choose to do what seems to be best for our companion birds. When it comes to my
recommendation in relation to any potential health related problems for
companion birds — I have always felt that possibly over-doing any disease
precautions was vastly safer than “under-doing” them. The years I worked with
avian veterinarians and saw the horrible effects (the worst were hundreds of
bird deaths in parrot aviaries on several occasions) of a lack of certain basic
disease control measures that could have been taken — will definitely change
anyone’s mind on the subject.
The two most important basic disease control measures:
-Your parrots should not be exposed to unknown birds. If you cannot be
sure of the health of the birds at club meetings, groomers, bird boarding
facilities, a bird shop, a friend’s house, or a local aviary, do not take your
parrots there.
-If you have been in contact with other birds at bird shows, pet shops,
farms, zoos, etc. — change your clothes and wash thoroughly before handling your
birds at home.
The information about the Avian Flu is constantly being updated. Here are
several sources I have found on the Internet to help keep you up to date on the
most current understanding of this disease (they were my best sources in the
writing of this article):
—The Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/
—The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:
http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
—The World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/en/
—The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/facts/avianinfluenza/home.html
—The University of California Davis College of Veterinary Medicine (You will
need to do a search on their site for “Avian Flu” as there are many separate
articles as opposed to a devoted part of the website):
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/searchmenu.html
—Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/News/avian_flu.htm
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