Facts about Avian Influenza

H5N1 Found in a parrot being quarantined by Brett Hammond of Pegasus Birds, Essex

According to reports the bird died one day before the end of the quarantine period, which is in itself unusual as the incubation period for this disease is said to be between 3 and 7 days, and one would assume all the birds had started their quarantine at the same time. Of course it is possible the parrot which died has been uwell for some days without being noticed.

The remaining birds have been 'culled' a word which in itself is distasteful. One would hope they were culled humanely.

One of the saddest things about Bird Flu is the way the birds throughout the world have been culled. Television footage showing live birds including swans being stuffed into black bins still alive. Therefore most probably pecking each other almost to death before suffocating.

I cannot see how the world and its relative governments can justify this cruelty.

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type 'A' strains of the influenza virus

All known type A strains can be found in birds. There are only 3 type A strains know to be found in human beings.

Hosts

The disease was first identified more than 100 years ago, it occurs in birds world wide and most birds carry the virus but don't necessarily suffer from the symptoms.

These birds are known as carriers or hosts, and the carriers can onpass the virus to susceptible birds which can and do become unwell and sometimes death occurs.

How Avian Flu spreads in birds

Birds can become infected with avian influenza virus when they have come in to contact with contaminated nasal, respiratory, or fecal material from infected birds.

Most often the wild birds that are carriers or hosts to the virus do not get sick, but they can spread avian influenza to other birds.

Symptoms

Vary and can be affected by the severity of the virus, the age of the bird and its environment, the presence of other disease or health problems.

The same as for any viral infection.

Incubation Period

Usually between 3 and 7 days of coming into contact with the virus.

It is still very unusual for the type A strains of the avian influenza virus to affect human beings.

61 human deaths have been reported worldwide from H5N1 to date.

Parrot Deaths

One parrot so far (24 October 2005) has died whilst in quarantine in the UK from this strain of avian flu.

Be vigilant, but don't panic! The idea of quarantine has worked, the bird died whilst IN quarantine.