chris
10-23-2005, 01:23 PM
Hi all,
i've just stumbled across this, don't know if it's already on here and i missed it... if it is please delete this topic http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif
Britain calls for ban on wild bird imports
by RACHEL ELLIS, Mail on Sunday
11:15am 23rd October 2005
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Reader comments (1)
A chicken being treated for avian flu
Ministers are demanding a total ban on the import of live wild birds to Britain after the first case of bird flu was identified in this country - but they will have to wait for permission from Brussels.
The Government fears more infected birds will enter the country unless tough new measures are put in place. But Britain is helpless to impose such a ban as only the European Commission has the power to enforce such restrictions.
As Ministers were last night waiting for the Commission to respond to their demands for a ban, scientists were checking to see if a parrot which died of bird flu in quarantine in Britain, the first case of bird flu here since 1992, had the H5N1 strain of the H5 virus which has killed at least 60 people in South-East Asia.
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Have your say » Scientists from the Medical Research Council have warned that the number of cases reported in humans could be the 'tip of the iceberg'.
And Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Council, called for the Government to order bigger stockpiles of antiviral drugs. He told Channel 4 last night: 'We have a vaccine that is not very effective at the moment against the H5 strain. We need more work to develop a better vaccine.'
But Stephen Inglis, director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said: 'One parrot poses no risk at all to humans. Even if the UK did get an outbreak, there is still no guarantee that it would infect human beings.'
The bird, which was imported from Surinam, South America, arrived in this country last month and died a few days ago. Part of a mixed consignment of 148 parrots and 'soft bills' (birds that eat soft fruit), it was shown to contain the 'highly pathogenic' H5 virus.
But authorities in Surinam said last night that the parrot tested negative for the disease before it was shipped, and blamed the bird's death on contamination with birds from Asia under quarantine.
Edmond Rozenblad, Surinam's chief veterinary official, said: 'We have been conducting rigorous testing because of the outbreak of the disease around the world. If it came from Surinam, other birds that we shipped would have died or been infected as well.'
The parrot was diagnosed in Britain on Friday. All the birds, together with a consignment of 216 from Taiwan which were held in the same quarantine facility at an undisclosed location, have been destroyed. An investigation is under way to find out the source of the virus and whether the birds were brought into this country legally.
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'We are urging the EU Commission to review its
position on the import of live wild birds to take account of the regional and area risks and recent cases.'
The Commission decides which countries can import birds and other animals to EU countries because it is a trade issue. The EU bans the import of live birds only from countries with a confirmed outbreak. For this ruling to be extended to a total ban on the import of live
birds, it must be approved by the Commission and the other EU member states.
Last night, animal welfare Minister Ben Bradshaw confirmed that it was up to the European Commission to decide if a ban could be imposed but that he believed the Commission would be 'quite receptive' to implementing the UK proposal.
All wild birds coming into Britain are quarantined for at least 30 days. Before they are released, they are checked for avian flu.
During the 30 days in quarantine, no other birds enter or leave the quarantine area to ensure that diseases are not passed between the animals. When the birds leave quarantine, the biosecure area is fully disinfected before a new consignment of birds enters.
Chris http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif
i've just stumbled across this, don't know if it's already on here and i missed it... if it is please delete this topic http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif
Britain calls for ban on wild bird imports
by RACHEL ELLIS, Mail on Sunday
11:15am 23rd October 2005
What is RSS?
Reader comments (1)
A chicken being treated for avian flu
Ministers are demanding a total ban on the import of live wild birds to Britain after the first case of bird flu was identified in this country - but they will have to wait for permission from Brussels.
The Government fears more infected birds will enter the country unless tough new measures are put in place. But Britain is helpless to impose such a ban as only the European Commission has the power to enforce such restrictions.
As Ministers were last night waiting for the Commission to respond to their demands for a ban, scientists were checking to see if a parrot which died of bird flu in quarantine in Britain, the first case of bird flu here since 1992, had the H5N1 strain of the H5 virus which has killed at least 60 people in South-East Asia.
Don't miss today
Money: Save cash on your household bills
Exclusive: See the Elizabethtown trailer!
Comment: Let's see where they really stand
Health: Retiring early could cut your life short
Have your say
Do you plan to spend less this Christmas?
Yes, I need to tighten my belt
No, will spend the same as always
More polls »
Hot debate
Is the ousting of Ken Clarke a chance lost for the Tories?
Have your say » Scientists from the Medical Research Council have warned that the number of cases reported in humans could be the 'tip of the iceberg'.
And Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Council, called for the Government to order bigger stockpiles of antiviral drugs. He told Channel 4 last night: 'We have a vaccine that is not very effective at the moment against the H5 strain. We need more work to develop a better vaccine.'
But Stephen Inglis, director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, said: 'One parrot poses no risk at all to humans. Even if the UK did get an outbreak, there is still no guarantee that it would infect human beings.'
The bird, which was imported from Surinam, South America, arrived in this country last month and died a few days ago. Part of a mixed consignment of 148 parrots and 'soft bills' (birds that eat soft fruit), it was shown to contain the 'highly pathogenic' H5 virus.
But authorities in Surinam said last night that the parrot tested negative for the disease before it was shipped, and blamed the bird's death on contamination with birds from Asia under quarantine.
Edmond Rozenblad, Surinam's chief veterinary official, said: 'We have been conducting rigorous testing because of the outbreak of the disease around the world. If it came from Surinam, other birds that we shipped would have died or been infected as well.'
The parrot was diagnosed in Britain on Friday. All the birds, together with a consignment of 216 from Taiwan which were held in the same quarantine facility at an undisclosed location, have been destroyed. An investigation is under way to find out the source of the virus and whether the birds were brought into this country legally.
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 'We are urging the EU Commission to review its
position on the import of live wild birds to take account of the regional and area risks and recent cases.'
The Commission decides which countries can import birds and other animals to EU countries because it is a trade issue. The EU bans the import of live birds only from countries with a confirmed outbreak. For this ruling to be extended to a total ban on the import of live
birds, it must be approved by the Commission and the other EU member states.
Last night, animal welfare Minister Ben Bradshaw confirmed that it was up to the European Commission to decide if a ban could be imposed but that he believed the Commission would be 'quite receptive' to implementing the UK proposal.
All wild birds coming into Britain are quarantined for at least 30 days. Before they are released, they are checked for avian flu.
During the 30 days in quarantine, no other birds enter or leave the quarantine area to ensure that diseases are not passed between the animals. When the birds leave quarantine, the biosecure area is fully disinfected before a new consignment of birds enters.
Chris http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif