Bird Flu and Dead Birds

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Laura Cannon

• Last online: 2 Sep 2010
• Mother Hen
• Posts: 118
• Registered: 9 August 2006
• From: Winchester, UK

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Although the latest outbreak of bird flu seems to have come through processed meat, it's raised the possibility of infection from wild birds again.
If you're worried about this, and you find a dead bird, here's what Defra advises you to do.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/wildbirds/

Basically - don't touch it with bare hands, - if you have to, pick it up in a bag, wearing gloves, and notify Defra on (08459 33 55 77).

I work within the area of bird diseases and it has been recently found that any fears pertaining to a bird flu H5N1 pandemic are not justified.
Of the 16 subtypes of avian influenza some can mutate into forms that can infect humans but a recent study shows that normal avian influenza does not spread easilly in cells that are at or below 32 degrees celsius which is the temperature inside the human nose. Avian flu viruses usually infect the gut of the bird to which is much warmer around 40 degrees celsius so is perhaps a strong basis to determin that the spread to humans has been minimal.

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Laura Cannon

• Last online: 2 Sep 2010
• Mother Hen
• Posts: 118
• Registered: 9 August 2006
• From: Winchester, UK

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Thank you so much for this fascinating post. It's great to get updates on the situation right from the people who are working in the field.