This topic may have been addressed before, but the question came up at a public meeting recently and I was unable to answer the question. It is clear from many articles and posts that the birds that have been reported to be carrying H5N1 seem to fall into the larger varieties, i.e., geese, ducks and chickens. Have there been reports of raptors, hawlks, eagles, etc. carrying the virus? Have song birds been tested anywhere?
Brunetti. Monotreme is the person to answer your question but if you go back to the home page and search, I think you will find a page listing all species infected…compiled by Monotreme.
As a field veterinarian, my opinion would be that at this point…I would assume that all species of birds are susceptible to H5N1…
…Some birds will get acute disease and die, some birds will have subclinical infections and some birds will carry the bug asymptomatically.
Good question…Thanks.
For what its worth, you might also include Crows, Blue Jays, & Pigeons. They only test for West Nile in Canada, otherwise you have to pay for the H5N1 testing yourself. Been there done that.
For what its worth, you might also include Crows, Blue Jays, & Pigeons. They only test for West Nile in Canada, otherwise you have to pay for the H5N1 testing yourself. Been there done that.
Brunetti - I think we really at this point have to tell leaders at our town meetings that the species of bird carrying H5N2 will probably be “Homo Sapiens,” with the name of “John,” and he will be riding the currents on a Singapore Airlines jet.
I understand that most people we meet are still thinking of this as “bird flu” rather than “panemic influenza” but it is up to us to change this thinking. I tell people now that I honestly believe that if thousands of chickens were to die tomorrow in a Delmarva poultry facility, that I would not be fearful that my family would catch “bird flu.” On the other hand, the clustering of H2H cases in countries with poor surveillance and a refusal to admit, let alone confont, the problem (i.e. they thought the 15yo sister of the two older brothers who died was just “upset” when she felt ill and delayed her hospitalization by 4 or 5 days) alarms me greatly.
The birds began the spread of this virus, and yes they will continue it. But it is the H2H version of human pandemic influenza we need to stress is the enemy. Putting it all down to a “bird flu” leads people to dismiss the entire subject, in my experience.
H5N1, sorry.
Tom DVM at 11:46 Thanks, I hae looked back through a lot of the postings and have not found a specific bird list. As Klatu mentioned, I to have seen crows and pigeons mentioned, but no specific testing results. The flyways are filled now with as an example broad wing hawks by the thousands on the East Coast moving from the Canadian nort to the southern US. It would be interesting to check if the observed migration numbers are down this year. The same could be tested/observed in many other species that migrate.
As Monotreme mentioned in his recent summary of the threat the virus has aready “killed millions of birds and many different mammals.” It might be useful to compile this listing in one place for thought and reflection.
“It might be useful to compile this listing in one place for thought and reflection.”
Brunetti. Monotreme did it…we just have to find it for you. Thanks.
Pixie at 12:15 I agree with you completely about the need to emphasize the human carrier aspects. It isn’t just a bird flu, but it also is of interest as to what other carriers there may be. The answer seems to be developing that it is increasingly more and more species, increasing the inevitable.
Tom DVM - I’m still looking for Monotreme’s list also.
Here is a List of confirmed species (it may be longer). Add dog and man to that list.
Oops, didn’t quite work. Click on the “Affected Species Chart” link on that page.
Brooks - Thanks very much! I’ll try to monitor as many sites and articles that I can to update the list and possibly post it if I can figure how to do that in the near future.
Brunetti - at 12:30: Ok, uncle, your point is well taken. But let’s all include all the rest of the critters on the “Affected Species Chart” and call it a disease of birds and mammals. If I sound frustrated, it is because I have had an alarming number of sensible, informed, intelligent people tell me lately that they are not at all worried because “this is about birds.” Sorry to take my frustration out here.
BTW, also from my experience the story of the 22 Tigers dying in the Thai zoo is one that makes people sit up and realize just what we mean by a “not just birds” disease. They are always very shocked to hear that so many powerful, valuable, rare, and highly protected animals could have sucumbed to this virus. The picture of those tigers in their minds is a visual they can understand, and makes the concept that this is about more than birds clear.
Pixie Thank you for mentioning the tigers in Thailand. I must admit I missed that story in October of 2004. I must have been blinded by the election. The death of so many big cats is a strong visual message that should make people take notice.
Canada, national avian influenza surveillance/wild bird monitoring program.
Preliminary Results by Species - http://wildlife1.usask.ca/en/aiv/prelim_species.php
Canadian government update. Seems to be incorrect or at least out of date. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/avflu/2005wildsauv/surtype.shtml
Here’s the Flu Wiki Species reported to be infected with H5N1 bird flu list. It’s probably not complete.
What Pixie said; birds are not the problem, (and mammal species already were, long before the US public started paying attention.
Here’s the Flu Wiki page:
AnimalsShownToBeInfectedWithH5N1BirdFlu
and the FAO page for those still concerned about the current H5N1 getting to their yard. (They should have titled it “mammals” instead of “cats” but, oh well.) ANIMAL HEALTH SPECIAL REPORT H5N1 in cats — 8 March 2006 Recommendations, and interesting information (not just) for veterinarians.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to gather the data and putting it together.
just heard on the radio.. The new recomandation for cats in an area with birdflu is to completly keep them indoors, or outdoors, no close contact… Apperantly the cats is also able to infect other cats, and infect them self via the anal. Probably when they do their washing I guess. This is sad.. verry sad. If birdflu arrives it will not only be stupid panic culling, but now there will be a solution many will choose by recomandation.. I think the complete outdoors solution will be the best for cats that is used to bee outdoors.. And handwash and no face contact with it.. :-( How the hell can they vacinate millions of chickens, but not offer a vacine for pets?
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