“Is the bird flu threat over?” – opinion

Just in case we think the danger is over, Peter Curson of Online Opinion wrote a summary on why he thinks the bird flu hasn’t gone away as yet. Among the points he raised, here are some of what I think reiterate the continuing threat of the disease.

1. New cases of bird flu are still breaking out, with more than a dozen countries in the last few months. Of note: England, Japan, Korea, Nigeria and Russia reported new cases this quarter alone. A new strain of the virus has emerged in China and spread to other Southeast Asian countries.

2. Some evidence suggests that the virus has mutated to cats, tigers and pigs.

3. Despite efforts by international agencies, a global surveillance and response system is still lacking. Further, bird flu may be underreported in countries with very poor monitoring, widely spread backyard poultry farms and uneducated poultry owners.

4. Tamiflu-resistant strains have already emerged. Moreover, the distribution of the bird flu drug has been limited to developing countries and even in Asia’s richer countries, supplies are still inadequate, which makes the global community in danger if a pandemic should appear soon.

Peter Curson’s last words?

Bird flu has not gone away. It remains permanently entrenched among wild birds and some domestic birds throughout many parts of the world. In addition, throughout Asia, billions of birds continue to be raised in intensive factory farms with high antibiotic use, maximum reuse of all carcass parts, and the recycling of wastes and faeces into poultry feed. Perhaps the real origins of bird flu lie here as much as they do in the natural environment?

(Peter Curson is Emeritus Professor in Medical Geography at Macquarie University and Adjunct Professor in The Centre for International Security Studies, at The University of Sydney)

Tags: flu, bird flu, virus, viral diseases, illnesses, health, medicine, threat, Peter Curson, opinion