Import bans: an overreaction to bird flu

Countries that are banning imports of poultry from bird flu-affected areas are overreacting, as the meat is safe to eat. While wild birds may play a role in spreading the virus, they are not the key to controlling its spread, said an official from the World Animal Health Organization. Sensible precautions, such as quickly culling birds in affected areas, can work to control outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza. An official from WHO reported that countries have far exceeded what is science-based and they have further complicated the losses to the industry. He further added that eating chicken is not what is going to kill people. A French trade minister said that 20 countries had imposed curbs on imports of French poultry after an outbreak of H5N1 at a turkey farm in the east of the country last week. The World Health Organization stressed again that properly cooked poultry does not spread bird flu. No one seems to have become infected merely through handling chicken meat. But poultry sales have plunged and many countries have moved to block imports as the virus spreads among flocks. About 19 countries have reported outbreaks of the flu in birds over the past month. In Italy the sales of poultry had dropped by 70 percent because of a historical mistrust of government. Countries were now beginning to respond in the proper manner, doing the right surveillance to watch the virus as soon as it begins to infect birds, culling poultry right away and sealing off the movement of poultry within affected areas. Culling or stamping out is the number one measure to be taken. The tools are available. Watching wild birds for signs of the virus is important but it would be impossible to try to control the spreading virus in wildfowl. Once the disease gets into the country it really doesn't matter whether it is carried by wildlife, because it is going to get into the poultry. Mute swans have been the latest sentinels in Europe and there is some evidence that wild mallards may be carrying the virus. But control has to take place in poultry. Developing countries are more at risk than richer nations because they lack a good veterinary system and the veterinary infrastructure of these countries needs improvement. The H5N1 virus has killed or forced the culling of more than 200 million birds globally. It can occasionally infect people who touch sick or dead birds and has infected 173 people, killing 93 of them. The fear is that the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily from person to person, sparking a pandemic in which millions could die.