Oct 25, 2005
Ok here comes the science bit! All birds carry the bird flu strain remaining dormant, just as all people carry and can contract the flu virus. But the problem comes when it mutates and becomes seriously harmful. Yes it does have an airborne transmission factor, but if you have an animals which is always kept in doors and have never come into contact with an infected animal then the risk is minimal. Bird flu is harmless to humans unless it's the mutated form.
Now if you're going to destroy ALL birds, then what the heck are you going to do about the wild ones? They are more at risk than a bird who is always kept indoors, you can't capture and cull all migratory birds can you? And it's the people bringing animals in illegally, by-passing quarantine that are the biggest problem.
Now with regard to the vaccine, only one company is licenced to manufacture and distribute it and their supplies are very low, they've requested that other companies be allowed to make it. BUT the problem comes if the virus mutates into another strain again, for example with the annual flu vaccines for the young and elderly in many countries, medics have to predict which strain will be the most problematic that year, there are so many and if they don't get the right one, as there are thousands of strains of flu, then you have a problem. Most people complain of fluey symptons but trust me if you've ever experienced full blown flu, it knocks you for six and you're very ill for weeks.
Destroying all birds because of avian flu is not the answer and is a panic move.
After saying all this, the ministry in Abu Dhabi have done a u-turn and said they won't do it.