Thanks, yes, I’ve seen this [full paper], and a related paper (on whether ducks are trojan horses)
An important straw for some to clutch at in blaming wild birds. Key part of blame-the-wild-birds, no matter the evidence.
Notions H5N1 is in wild birds simply aren’t borne out by facts. (One thing – even if mild in ducks, it would kill other birds. Otherwise, arguing for H5N1 becoming benign in wild ibrds.)
Guan Yi, among experts I quote in another thread, is among authors of paper. He’s independent minded bloke, though.
As I noted in a post above, inc re such experiments with/results from captive birds (see also thread here re Trojan ducks):
For H5N1 to become non virulent in wild birds, need considerable evolution; not seeing this in wild (and there is considerable testing; also lack of wild bird deaths from H5N1 pretty near everywhere).
Lower path H5N1 in domestic/experimental ducks in low titres cloaca; ducks don’t French kiss and I’ve never seen wild ducks sneeze, so spreading it tough. Swans in Croatia also low titres cloaca; other birds on ponds with them not infected [source of the swans infection a mystery: why swans here, Volga, predominating among the – rather few – wild birds affected in Romania?]
The real blame is elsewhere; not at all hard for poultry industry to move bird flus around – been proven before.
Big question, then – why so much focus on wild birds, when even FAO noting that H5N1 not found in healthy wild birds? (Are minor almost exceptions, mentioned on this forum.)
Why?
Why not put at least an equivalent spotlight on farming? (see thread here)
These are sad times for “science”.
Martin
Post edited by: martin, at: 2005/12/23 00:17