Wild birds scared n killed thro H5N1 flu fears

[Martin W]

Reports re wild birds being killed (and scared off) in attempts to lower H5N1 risks seem to be increasing. – despite scientific evidence being that they can't sustain H5N1. In Thailand some time ago, Prime Minister Thaksin threatened to cull openbill storks when some (around 8?) died with H5N1. Happily, didn't do so. Lately, seen re: Vietnam starting attempts to kill all wild birds in at least two cities (halted). UAE clearing coastline of birds (not sure how). Couple of Middle Eastern countries announced plans to drain wetlands to reduce waterbird numbers (maybe hasn't happened – yet) In Crimea, "wild bird reservoirs [of H5N1]" being removed. Russia main killer of birds it seems. Been reports re wild birds killed near infected farms. Now:

Quote:

in REGNUM, probably the same source: http://www.regnum.ru/news/577831.html Anatoliy Kvashnin: "in Siberia are possible the outbreaks of bird influenza and for this it is necessary to be prepared" Plenipotentiary noted that it is necessary to clearly determine all populated areas, which are been located next to the reservoirs, on which was possible the contact of wild and poultry.

"in the dangerous places is important not to allow nesting wild birds by all existing means", he stated Anatoliy Kvashnin. Plenipotentiary also emphasized the need organizing the corresponding safeguards at the poultry processing facilities. Using the original Russian phrase "not to allow nesting wild birds", the following articles have been easily reached: "Wild to birds they will forbid to twist the nest" (see photo Opinions: Guest RRR: You press flies, decrease birth rate, destroy your sparrows. Guest: … let to Africa it flies to lead to the birds, that on the spring will here jerk… http://www.rambler.ru/db/news/msg.html?mid=7225023&s=260005039 http://www.ria-sibir.ru/viewnews/12867.html

[Martin W]

15:33 31Jan2006 RTRS-Romanians torture and kill wild birds near Danube

BUCHAREST, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Romanians have been torturing and
killing wild birds stranded by freezing weather close to where the
country’s first bird flu outbreak was detected in October, a wildlife
organisation said on Tuesday.
“Around 15 young men, aged between 20 and 25, were catching the
birds, throwing them in the air, using birds which were still living as
soccer balls, and tearing off their heads,” Razvan Popescu, director of
the Oceanic Club wildlife protection organisation told Reuters.
The birds had been too cold and tired to fly as temperatures
plummeted as low as minus 20 Celsius near the Danube delta.
“There were up to 100 migratory birds, ducks, geese and coots,”
Popescu said.
He said the Oceanic Club had been doing checks on migratory birds as
the lakes and rivers froze when they saw the men playing with the birds.
Veterinarians said samples were taken from some of the dead birds
and tested for bird flu. They came out negative.
Romania has found avian flu in poultry in 26 villages since October,
but has recorded no human cases.
Health Ministry officials said doctors were now monitoring the men
because many of the people who have contracted bird flu worldwide had
had close contact with infected birds.
((ROMANIA-BIRDS; Reporting by Aurora Martiniuc; Writing by Antonia
Oprita; Editing by Alison Williams; Reuters Messaging ))

Environmental police have been contacted; some measures being taken to avert repeats of such woeful lunacy.

[Martin W]

Quote:

Mar 06, Colombo: People of the Rathnapura area are chasing away the
large flocks of birds which add beauty and fame to the famous gem
city of Sri Lanka.

Fire crackers and other methods used to chase the migrant birds which
gather in large numbers during the season have become a nuisance to
both the birds and people. Panic created after the eruption of bird
flu in neighbouring India has already affected the poultry industry
in Sri Lanka.

Provincial Deputy Director of Health Mr. D.A.B. Dangalle has prompted
the epidemiology department of the Colombo National Hospital to
conduct an investigation and the research carried out by a team of
doctors of the Peradeniya Veterinary Research Institute has proved
that Rathnapura birds cause no health hazard. They examined a number
of poultry farms in the area as chickens are the most prone to the
epidemic.

People chase Rathnapura birds in fear of bird flu

[Martin W]

from correspondent in Germany:

I realised, that the situation was out of control in Germany. At work I had applications for removal of House Martin nests (I work in the department of Species Conservation of the city of Berlin), veterinarians closed down our wild bird rescue station, and I was asked, whether children still could play in parks. In eastern Germany the first White Stork nests are to be removed, and in one state in SW-Germany a law to shot down ervery strange flying bird is in serious discussion.

[Martin W]

“For dealing with the bird influenza in the Altai they organize “noise campaign” and will solve the hunting”:

Quote:

The plan of measures for opposition to the propagation of the virus
of bird influenza is affirmed in the Altai. As reports correspondent
IA regnum, in contrast to previous, into this plan much new is
introduced. Besides vaccination, it is intended to solve
spring-summer hunting the planktonic bird and to organize “noise
campaign” in order to frighten away migratory birds in the regions,
which find on the way of their migration. They assume that such
regions it will be 17.

As they reported in the administration of veterinary science for
Altai edge, population will be drawn for creating the sound effects
“it will be possible to knock by buckets and sticks. The main thing –
to create the factor of uneasiness for the birds “, declare
veterinary surgeons.

In order not to give to migratory birds to nest and to enter the
contact with the domestic feathered, they will solve hunting.
Furthermore, birds they will drive off by noise.

spookily reminiscent of Mao’s campaign vs “sparrows” (one of “four evils”) – people then letting off firecrackers, banging on woks etc etc, even at night. [see, eg, Wild Swans book by Jung Chang]

In China, “sparrows” thought to be grain-eating pests. In practice of course, many birds killed. Led to surge in insect pests; Mao had to stop sparrow campaign.

“Learned ornithologists consider the shooting of birds useless (Saint Petersburg)”:

Quote:

Ornithologists consider the shooting of birds on the Baltic migratory
way useless from the point of view of protection from the virus of
the influenza of birds. As reports correspondent IA regnum, about
this today, on 6 March, the senior scientific worker of zoological
institute RAN [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] Vladimir khrabryy stated
at the press conference in Saint Petersburg. “in the zoological
institute RAN [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] is comprised the letter,
signed by the director of the institute Aleksandr Alimov, in which
the scientists express their point of view to the problem: the
ornithologists do not have complete confidence, that the migratory
birds are the basic peddlers H5N1. Shooting itself we consider
harmful and medieval deystvom, 98% of hunters even do not
distinguish, at what birds they shoot “, noted scientist.

According to Vladimir khrabry, migratory birds stop on the North
coast of Gulf of Finland from Lakhty to the fox nose, on south – from
Znamenki to the dam, and also around dam and Kronstadt, in the fields
around Saint Petersburg in Koltush region, Pushkin, Kolpina, krasnoe
selo, gorelova. 40 it is specific birds in Leningrad region they are
carried into the Red Books of different level, 8 it is specific – in
the Red Book RF, 23 – in the Red Book Of baltiki, 17 it is specific –
in the Red Book of Fennoscandia, 6 it is specific they are introduced
into the international Red Book. In Saint Petersburg they live
150-200 thousand gray crows, 300 thousand different winterring birds,
300 thousand seagulls of different it is specific. Daily each bird
eats 100-150 grams of different fodder, including food withdrawals.

Vladimir khrabryy reported also that soon the group of the scientists
of zoological institute RYBACHY [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] will leave
for the biological station on The Kuronian Spit in the environs of
Kaliningrad for the ringing of birds and their study. “the yearly
scientists of institute ring 10 thousand birds on The Kuronian Spit. In this year it is intended to ring so many birds. Any means
of protection the scientists not had – it is not separated to this of
means, by any studies, connected with the influenza of birds they be
occupied also not will be “, noted brave.

As reported today the chief specialist for the administration for the
veterinary science of the government of Saint Petersburg Valerie
yashina, on the urban dumps they will catch seagulls and cormorants
on the Finnish technology. Only the part of the birds, according to
The the yashinoy, is intended to kill with the aid of the carbon
dioxide. Yashina certified, that this will be done only “for purposes
of the civilized regulation of synanthropic bird, as this occurs in
all civilized countries”, but about the assumed quantity it did not
report the birds intended for the destruction.

Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/03/07 07:46

Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/03/07 09:21

[Martin W]

seems reports coming from Russia are rather contradictory.

No shooting off of migratory birds in Russia to ward off avian flu

MOSCOW, March 7 (Itar-Tass) – There will be no shooting of migratory
birds in Russia as a measure to ward off avian flu, the general
director of the Center for Wildlife Protection said at a news
conference on Tuesday referring to instructions by the
Rospotrebnadzor consumer rights watchdog.

“If we shoot off birds, we shall trigger an unpredictable scenario
of the epidemic with our own hands,” Alexei Zimenko said. “Birds
will start looking for quieter areas, while dead or wounded birds
will be a pray of predators and crows,” he added. This will only
contribute to the spread of the epidemic, the specialist emphasized.
Besides, the shooting operation would be very costly, he said.

The president of the Russian Union for Bird Protection, Viktor
Zubakin, told the news conference that “ornithologists advise not to
open a wild fowl hunting season this year”. “One can contract the
virus when disjointing fowl,” he stressed.

According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations, about 1.5 million
domestic birds have already died of bird flu in Russia. Alone 752,000
of them have died in February and early in March. A mass arrival of
migratory birds is expected later.

[Martin W]

Looking like there are plans to halt bird nesting in places seen as dangerous for H5N1 in Russia. As pointed out in one of items here, this could well have unforeseen negative consequences.

Quote:

The prepared By rospotrebnadzorom detailed plan of measures for the
preventive maintenance of bird influenza in the territory of Russia
has as a goal the non-admission of nesting migratory birds in the
territory RF. On this, as transmits correspondent IA regnum, stated
today, on 7 March, in Moscow the general director of the center of
the protection of wild nature of Aleksey zimenko.

As noted Zimenko, an attempt at the interference of man in the
natural course of events can lead to the appearance of unforeseen
situations. Bird will begin to search for refuge, leaving the
customary places of nesting, podranki and dead birds they will be
reached to crows and by vagrant animal, which will become the reason
for the approximation of virus to settlings of people. The general
director of the center of the protection of wild nature reminded one
that entire koshachiye they were sensitive to the viruses. With
respect to dogs there are no such data as yet.

Rospotrebnadzor attempts not to allow nesting migratory birds in the territory
RF: Center of the protection of wild nature

Quote:

The authorities of Novosibirskaya Oblast are intended not to allow in
spring nesting migratory birds in the territory of region.

In the Novosibirskaya Oblast in the lake the vats – the millennial
natural incubator of young animals of migratory bird – with the
offensive of spring are intended to fire back and to frighten away by
noise of those arriving flying into the region from the warm it is
boundary feathered, which causes healthy skepticism in the hunters:
in the coastal reeds of vats millions of chickens, ducklings and
other young verdure of wild bird yearly are derived.

The plenipotentiary representative of the President of Russia in SFO
Anatoliy kvashnin at the conference about the measures for the
prevention of bird influenza stated that it is necessary to clearly
determine all populated areas, which are been located next to the
reservoirs, on which was possible the contact of wild and poultry.

[url=http://www.sibcity.ru/?news=3734&line=publish&page=0&PHPSESSID=9f9eba016054f30fc
d369cd]Provincial authorities are intended not to allow nesting the migratory birds[/url]

Quote:

in the dangerous places is important not to allow nesting wild birds
by all existing means, it assumes. – throughout the entire territory
of Russia the most probable direction of the spread of bird influenza
precisely from Siberia. Since precisely through the regions of West
Siberia goes the mass overflight of wild birds.

http://veterinarian.ru/media/n5h1.htm

[Martin W]

Ekologi: the destruction of crows in the city will lead to the dominance of the rats

The defenders of wild nature speak against the destruction of crows
in the Russian cities. Let us recall that the previously similar
method of fight with the bird influenza proposed the main sanitary
doctor of the country gennadi onishchenko. He said that “the crows
must be mercilessly destroyed”, because “crow – is the feathered
wolf”, that eats up carrion, including wild bird, and it can become
the source of the spread of bird influenza. The defenders of nature
assert that this it is not possible to make. “if we destroy all crows
in the city, then the dominance of the rats, that are the peddlers of
many infections, will begin, and in this sense they are much more
dangerous than crows”, it stated to journalists the colleague of the
center of the protection of wild nature Irina travina.

Furthermore, to get rid of the stir around the theme issued a call
the minister of agriculture of Russia. Minister called “to the
calmness” and he stated about the need of creating the special
“staff” at the Russian level, which could extend the specific
recommendations about how avoid bird influenza as fight with its
penetration to the territory of the country.

[Martin W]

These are crazy times!
Fearmongering virologists and journalists seem to be having quite an impact re wild birds.

Had message re plans for swan killing in Les Dombes, France.

Now, just read of this report:

Quote:

In the republic the Altai is counted 37 reservoirs, located near the
populated areas. There, for the purpose of the preventive maintenance
of bird influenza, special brigades will work on frightening off of
migratory birds. On this to the correspondent IA REGNUM On 22 March
they reported in the press- service of the government of republic the
Altai.

Is at present in the republic explanatory work on the preventive
maintenance of bird influenza in all official media expanded,
specialists carry out the inspection of the production of poultry
raising on the markets and in the stores, are conducted the circuits
of the owners of poultry stock per farm. In this case to the
inhabitants of villages are entrusted the reminders, in which are
specified the precautionary measures in the content of bird.

In the Altai there are 17 disinfection installations, they all in
running order. The government of republic isolated from the reserve
fund for 1,266 millions. rubles for the acquisition of the
specialized diagnostic laboratory, vaccine and armored clothing.

In the mountain Altai special brigades will frighten away migratory birds from
the reservoirs

[Martin W]

http://www.regnum.ru/news/613096.html
“During the studies of the authority Of buryatii they will learn to
frighten away birds and to carry out the podvorovye circuits”

During the studies in The kabanskeye region in practice it will
worked out how frighten away birds, if they are collected to be
nested near the populated areas how to carry out podvorovye circuits,

[Martin W]

Just received this news item, inc plans to stop birds breeding in Russia this spring.

Hope those who have blithely blamed wild birds for H5N1 spread will feel proud of playing a role in the witch hunt, and step forward to accept their share of blame for this and other things happening.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=6389844&PageNum=0

Russia loses half of farm poultry because of bird flu
14.04.2006, 20.07
???
TAMBOV, April 14 (Itar-Tass) — Russia has lost nearly half of farm poultry because of bird flu, Chief Public Health Official and head of the Federal Consumer Rights and Human Well Being Service Gennady Onishchenko said at a Friday meeting of the Central Federal District Council.

“Bird flu has affected nine constituents of the Russian Federation,” Onishchenko said. “Wild birds will fly to Siberia in late April, and a pan-epidemic may spread onto the Urals. The bird flu forecast for the Central Federal District is favorable.”

“We do not expect the infection [in the Central Federation Region} that does not have much places for nesting,” Onishchenko said. “Yet the spring hunting season has been banned, and specialists would try to prevent the nesting.”

Some 150 million doses of bird flu vaccine for the inoculation of domestic birds are being bought from Vladimir and Stavropol factories. The majority of poultry farms of the Central Federal District are not ready for keeping their birds indoors. “This unpreparedness may fully deprive Russia of poultry farms,” Onishchenko said.

– can also see this poultry-farm created virus is doing massive damage to poultry industry. This is part of the real story (for this is bird flu, not human flu).

[Martin W]

http://www.regnum.ru/news/628900.html
“They will destroy wild birds in the Chita province for training purposes”

On 25 April in the Chita province start the two-day commanding staff
studies of summary epizootic force on the fight with the bird
influenza. As they reported to the correspondent IA REGNUM in the
provincial administration of veterinary science, study they will pass
in the territory of Chita region – in the village Makkaveyevo.

Spacing system for the transport will be introduced during the
studies, the capture of vagrant birds and their utilization is
organized, the process of the vaccination of poultry is demonstrated,
are shown methods in the non-admission of contact on the reservoirs
of wild bird with the relative and further. In the opinion of
organizers, study they will make it possible to be convinced of the
readiness of the specialized services for the fight against the
outbreak of disease in the territory of Transbaykal.

[Martin W]

From a correspondent: Just came across this article. Appears the Russians are hell bent on blaming wild birds. I dread to think what "The situation has been neutralized," means.   

Apr 25 2006 6:49PM Epicenter of pandemic bird flu strain shifts to Russia – Onishchenko MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) – A bird flu pandemic is highly probable in Russia this summer, said Gennady Onishchenko, chief of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s consumer rights watchdog. "The epicenter of the bird flu virus’s pandemic strain formation has shifted to Russia," Onishchenko told a news conference on Tuesday. Therefore, Rospotrebnadzor and other agencies’ serious and successful work will largely determine when the pandemic strain strikes our planet, he said. Due to unusually cold temperatures in the Southern Caspian region – in Iran and Turkey–and rather warm weather in southern Russia this year, migrating birds nested in unlikely places. "This explains early bird flu outbreaks in Dagestan and other locations in the Southern Federal District," Onishchenko said. "The situation has been neutralized," Onishchenko added.

[Martin W]

http://www.regnum.ru/news/631975.html
“In Tyumen’ Oblast the shooting of the wild birds began”

Governor of Tyumen’ Oblast Vladimir Yakushev signed order “about the
measures for warning of the spread of the influenza of birds in the
spring-summer period of 2006″. As they reported to the correspondent
IA REGNUM in the press- service of the governor of Tyumen’ Oblast, in
the document it is discussed the organization of brigade on
frightening off and shooting of wild birds, besides carried into the
Red Books of the International Union for Conservation of nature and
natural resources and Russian Federation, about the delivery
permission to the shooting of birds.

Control of the performance of order is entrusted to the deputy
governor of Tyumen’ Oblast, director of the department of the
agribusiness of Tyumen’ Oblast on Vladimir Covina.

[Martin W]

Seems there is madness sweeping through too much of Russia.

http://www.redbook.ru/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=326
“Staff approached the work”

On 28 March took place the first session of staff on the opposition
of propagation in the territory of the Chelyabinsk province of bird
influenza. The work of staff headed the first deputy governor Andrey
Kosilov.
…
Since the beginning of the year the veterinary
services of region conducted more than 5,4 thousand diagnostic
studies. Thus far bird influenza is not discovered in the territory
of region. However, specialists await appearance in the
yuzhnoural’skikh lakes of the migratory bird in two weeks.
Frightening off and shooting of birds in a radius of 50 km from the
populated areas will be organized in the territory of region. Will be
organized 100-150 brigades, which will be under the tight control of
news its shooting and utilization. Extensive explanatory work will be
carry ouied among the population of region, since in this year will
be forbidden not only the hunting the planktonic bird, but also the
free enclosure of poultry.

[Martin W]

http://www.annews.ru/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=40546
“Migratory birds in Tyumen’ Oblast will fire back the special brigades”

28.04.2006 20:27

SURGUT, on 28 April (corr. ANN Nikolai Ivlev). Brigades on
frightening off and shooting of wild birds will be created in Tyumen’
Oblast. To fire back is permitted all feathered, except those carried
into the Red Books.

As they reported in the press- service of the governor of region, the
decision “about the measures for warning of the spread of the
influenza of birds in the spring-summer period of 2006″ it signed the
chapter of region.

“in the document it is discussed the organization of brigade on
frightening off and shooting of wild birds and about the delivery
permission to the shooting of birds. To fire back is permitted all
feathered, except carried into the Red Books of the International
Union for Conservation of nature and natural resources and Russian
Federation “, they refined in the press- service of governor.

Check the performance of order they will be the department of the
agribusiness of Tyumen’ Oblast.

[Martin W]

NOVOSIBIRSK…

On the third day after the discovery of the spring season of hunting provincial authorities published order "about taking of measures for warning of the spread of the influenza of birds in the territory of Novosibirskaya Oblast". In it it is discussed the organization of mobile groups and special brigades of hunters on the shooting of the wild planktonic birds. … Traditionally birds rest in the southwestern part of Novosibirskaya Oblast – Dovolenskeye, Zdvinskeye, Baganskeye, Kupinskeye, Chanovskeye, Krasnozerskeye regions. The primary task of mobile groups and special brigades of hunters – not to allow the contact of poultry with ptakhami migratory. They are provided for this and work on frightening off of those be planktonicing from the reservoirs – the specially trained people will actively make noise – and the shooting of bird. At this time obizhennye with the limited quantity of licenses and by prohibition to the shooting of the planktonic bird the hunters will nevertheless "fire", in spite of prohibition. To a question, as control of the disturbers will be achieved, the Deputy Department Chief Of rossel’khoznadzora for NSO Aleksey Sevostyan answered: – as always! In the places of nesting birds special control with the attraction of the colleagues OF MVD will be achieved. To the period of the discovery season in them is conducted the operation "hunter". Furthermore, we are intended directly "at the places" to continue to conduct explanatory work with the hunters….

[Martin W]

The madness continues:

http://www.regnum.ru/news/639920.html
“1 929 crows are killed in the Chelyabinsk province for purposes of the preventive maintenance of the bird influenza”

Action on the shooting of animals and birds in the dangerous regions
continues, they reported IA REGNUM in the press- service of control
Rossel’khoznadzora on the Chelyabinsk province.

From 10 April through 15 May in the territory of the South Urals
acted more than 40 special brigades on the shooting of gray crows,
deserted cats and dogs. It was begun to operate in the different time
from 126 to 259 people, who have the permission of okhotnadzora to
the shootings.

In the time of action were killed 1 929 gray crows, 252 deserted dogs
even 24 deserted cats. The corpses of the destroyed birds and animals
were utilized in the established by veterinarians order.

During the conducted operation bird influenza in the territory of the
Chelyabinsk province registered was not.

[Martin W]

Yamal – north Siberia (region never affected)

http://www.regnum.ru/news/639820.html
“The special-brigades on the shooting of the migratory birds are created on Yamal”

On 25 May on Yamal special brigades will begin to frighten away and
to fire back migratory birds. The specialists entered into the
composition of brigades Rossel’khoznadzora, MCHS [EMERGENCY AND
DISASTER RELIEF MINISTRY], veterinary service, militiamen hunters. As
noted the deputy chief of the self-contained division for the
administration Of rossel’khoznadzora for Tyumen’ Oblast, Yugry also
of Yamal Andrey Shcherits, the first measure for the preventive
maintenance of bird influenza is planned for the period from 25 May
through 5 June, then brigade leaves in Priural’e.

Specialists do not exclude, that some hunters, in spite of the rules,
will leave to okhotugod’ya for the traditional trade. In that case
the disturbers will be made to answer. Minimum punishment – these are
penalty from 500 rubles, maximum – deprivation of permission for
conducting of hunting.

The large requirements of authority present also to participants in
the brigades on frightening off and shooting of the migratory birds:
if we professional fisherman, called protect the trusted to it
territory from the penetration to it of the potential carriers of
dangerous infection, they will find after the hunting, and not by
shooting, it immediately will be derived from the composition of
brigade and also they will summon.

[Martin W]

“Preventive”/”Diagnostic” Shooting

On May 31, 2006 the press office of the Rosselkhoznadzor (Russian
Agriculture Oversight Agency) office for Tyumen Province and the
Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Districts (in western Siberia)
announced that the shooting of wild birds in Tyumen Province had been
halted and all the special team members had surrendered their permits.
During the campaign to shoot wild birds flying over the province, 962
teams of hunters shot a total of 13,549 birds, including 6,879 that were
destroyed and disposed of and 113 that were sent to Rosselkhoznadzor for
testing. As of 31 May, no cases of avian flu had been reported in the
territory. According to a Rosselkhoznadzor spokesperson, specialists
from the provincial wildlife management department planned to continue
monitoring the avian flu situation in the province.

source: RIA Novosti (Novosti Russian News Agency), May 31, 2006.

[Martin W]

http://www.regnum.ru/news/653872.html
“In Murmansk region the shooting of the migratory birds was completed”

In Murmansk region the shooting of wild migratory birds for purposes
of the preventive maintenance of bird influenza is practically
completed. The today controlling services declare, that in the region
there is no bird influenza. But many forms migrate, and the
theoretical chance of unfavorable distribution nevertheless remains.
Cannot be weakened control, and monitoring is necessary. All
migratory birds befit for the preventive shooting. For the analysis
the veterinary surgeon is beret the fragment of bowels of bird.
Corpse will be burnt. Deputy division head of okhotnadzora Of
rossel’khoznadzora of Murmansk region Stanislav kirchigin: “our
division already returned forty tests, and they thus far indicate
that the result is negative – all normal”, reports GTRK “Murman”.

[Martin W]

Another "result" for those fearmongering about wild birds and h5n1:

Quote:

Chiang Rai _ The annual migration of swallows to the small town of Mae Sai has got locals here fearing a possible outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. Tens of thousands of the birds arrived in Mae Sai municipality two weeks ago. And since then, fears have been growing among residents scared that droppings from the migratory birds could spread the deadly virus. ,,, The authorities have been spraying the roads with disinfectant every evening to try and prevent any possible spread of the virus and are discussing other ways to deal with the birds. They have even lit fire-crackers and sprayed chemicals used to wipe out mosquitoes and their breeding-grounds, but all these measures seem to scare the birds away only temporarily. … Early lab tests of bird carcasses, however, have shown no trace of bird flu

[Martin W]

Quote:

To avoid the outbreak of bird influenza in the Trans-Ural in
connection with the advancing spring season the government of region
affirmed the comprehensive plan of measures for the prevention of
drift, propagation and liquidation of the influenza of birds in the
territory of the Kurgan province, they reported on 14 February to
correspondent IA regnum in the press- service provincial government.
…
In the period of migration and nesting of wild bird provincial
services after it will organized observation. One additional
important task will become the inspection of the reservoirs, on which
dwells the game. The mobile forces created during March of the
present year will be aimed at frightening off of migratory bird in
order to prevent by it from being nested near the populated areas,
since the probability of the contact of wild bird with the relative
is precisely there great.

In the Kurgan province the plan of measures for the preventive maintenance of the bird influenza is affirmed

[Martin W]

Quote:

All poultry farms in the Moscow region are under strict quarantine, as bird flu virus has been detected at two farmsteads, acting Moscow regional governor Alexei Panteleyev told Itar-Tass.

He said the access to poultry farms will be limited, and local personnel will be under permanent medical surveillance.

All wild birds that may appear within the poultry farms’ range will be shot down, eh said.

Bird flu detected near Moscow, strain yet unknown

[Martin W]

Seeems several Russian regions have adopted a Shoot the Scapegoats policy. KALININGRAD. March 20 (Interfax) – Specialists of the Federal Veterinarian and Phytosanitary Control Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) have begun shooting wild birds in the Kaliningrad region to stop the spread of bird flu. "Rosselkhoznadzor specialists are acting in line with a relevant order that sets the order for the examination of places of birds’ mass gathering. A planned shooting is under way, blood samples and dead birds are taken to laboratories for examination," Yevgeny Safronov, Rosselkhoznadzor’s press secretary, told Interfax on Tuesday. "First analyses showed that there are no signs of bird flu in the region," he said, adding that special mobile groups are involved in the shooting of wild birds. No bird flu cases were registered in the Kaliningrad region in 2006, Safronov said.

Wild bird being shot to fight bird flu in Kaliningrad region

[Martin W]

Commentary from Russia, where it seems there’s way more madness re H5N1 than actual disease.

Quote:

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti commentator Tatyana Sinitsyna) – Many migratory birds
are already heading for their summer homes in Russia. By the eternal laws
of nature, birds are flying in large numbers to their nesting-places for
the sake of raising a new generation.

Today, however, few people romanticize the spring return of birds because
they have been discredited by the rise of avian flu.

Though ornithologists say the “guilt” of birds has not been proven, fears
of a new “plague” seem to be overriding common sense. People are ready to
declare a real war on wild birds. Why not? A machine-gun was once designed
in the United States especially to shoot migratory passenger pigeons, and
in 1899 this species of bird was successfully exterminated.

As spring arrives, there are more and more calls from various levels of
Russian society to exterminate migratory birds. Alexei Zimenko, the
director of the Wild Nature Center, describes such a method of preventing
avian flu as “shameful, absurd and unacceptable.” First, it would pose a
serious threat to endangered species. Second, according to Zimenko, the
massive shooting of birds would only encourage an epidemic because killed
and wounded birds spread the infection. Third, such measures are very
expensive: for example, the work of scare-away teams in the Novosibirsk
Region alone costs 300 million rubles a year.

Flocks of birds fly mostly at night, and during the day they stop at their
customary migratory places, often near water. It is here that they should
be targeted, according to the recommendations. In the instructions it sent
to all regional committees, the Russian Agency for Health and Consumer
Rights underlines: “Take measures to prevent the nesting of migratory
birds near reservoirs and at places of possible contact with poultry.” The
local authorities will decide which methods to use.

The same is recommended in a letter from the Russian Veterinary
Supervision Agency to local authorities: “In population centers situated
near the shores of reservoirs where migratory birds have nesting-places,
organize measures to scare away birds to a distance of 3 to 10 kilometers
from the population centers.” The letter contains an important piece of
advice: “use all acoustic and other methods.” The latter is a clear
reference to firearms.

“Besides the fact that the shooting of birds is inhumane and
anti-environmental, it is also pointless. Birds are very mobile, and there
are so many of them that you cannot exterminate them even if you give
every Russian a gun,” says Yevgeny Kuznetsov, a leading expert at the
Center for the Protection of Wild Animals’ Health.

He believes that any attempt to scare away, not to mention shoot, wild
birds will only force them to search for new places to feed, rest and
nest, meaning they will fly to unusual places.

The problem of avian flu is so serious that it has become the focus of
attention not only of scientists and experts but political parties as
well. The ruling United Russia party has held a conference on the matter.
“Avian flu has existed for millions of years. At present, no type of
animal flu is dangerous for humans,” Professor Yevgeny Voronin, the rector
of the Skryabin Moscow Veterinary and Biotechnology Academy, told the
conference. “I can drink a medicine bottle of the H5N1 virus and nothing
will happen to me. Students at our academy study virology and work with
the live avian flu virus. I have never heard that anyone has suffered.”

The tone of another speaker, Academician Dmitry Lvov, the director of the
Ivanovsky Virology Research Institute, was different. He believes the
possibility of a pandemic on all continents is real. According to Lvov,
the potential of the H5N1 virus is greater than that of the Spanish
influenza that claimed the lives of 50 million people at the beginning of
the 20th century. “For the deadly virus to spread from human to human,
only two biochemical changes are needed. If this happens, it will be a
disaster,” he warned.

The scientist added that it was impossible to counter the process of
evolution in ecosystems. “It is impossible to prevent a pandemic or an
epizootic [an epidemic affecting animals] because it is a disaster like a
hurricane or an earthquake. But it is possible and necessary to reduce the
possible effects of such disasters through forecasting and prevention,” he
stressed. Among the obligatory steps to be taken against avian flu, he
named the vaccination of household poultry, reliable protection measures
to isolate poultry farms, the vaccination of poultry farm personnel, and
wide-ranging disinfection measures.

Has Russia declared war on birds?

[Martin W]

Quote:

The team comprising Yong Choon Loy, Jason Yong and Richard Lee shot 226 crows,
the highest number this season in the area under MPS jurisdiction.

Jason and his team, who take part in crow shoots as a hobby, also participated
in the competition organised by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council last year.

By wiping out these noisy birds, we ensure clean surroundings, said Jason.

A total of 1,119 crows were shot by 83 shooters during the three-month season
that started in January.

Each shooter received RM2 for each crow killed.

MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim, who presented certificates to the shooters,
encouraged more shooters to come forward to help the municipality keep the crow
population in check.

We organised this competition as crows in Pakistan were discovered to be
carrying the H5N1 strain of Bird Flu virus, Zainal Abidin said.

He added that MPS started crow shoots in 2002 and had awarded certificates to
those involved in the operations.

1,119 birds killed in crow-shooting contest

[Author]

Posts