Mad Cow, Bird/Swine Flu, Foot and Mouth, E.coli, Salmonella, Ebola, Marburg...

[Jo]

I didn't think that there was enough vaccine anyway. There haven't been any postings on the main bird flu thread, I suppose there isn't much more to say....

[princessemma]

I wish they would stop showing it on the news with no warning. It breaks my heart to see them treating those birds in that way. I've seen them putting birds that are clearly still alive into plastic bags. Sick sick sick!!!
It's no shock there is bird flu the way they are kept in such disgusting conditions any infections or diseases are going to spread like wildfire, it was the same with foot and mouth.

[kriz]

Does anyone, except compassionate vegans, think about these poor birds affected by this virus? The human race seem to be obsessed with whatever it's going to affect THEM or not.:( It's all about how it affects humans directly, not about the animal suffering involved and the possible future implications for the eco-system in whole.

[Tigerlily]

I wish they would stop showing it on the news with no warning. It breaks my heart to see them treating those birds in that way. I've seen them putting birds that are clearly still alive into plastic bags. Sick sick sick!!!
It's no shock there is bird flu the way they are kept in such disgusting conditions any infections or diseases are going to spread like wildfire, it was the same with foot and mouth.

I agree. I was casually flipping the channels and I stopped at the news channel. And all of a sudden, these men are stuffing live ducks into bags and dragging them off and throwing them on a back of a pick-up truck. :mad: :(

[Jo]

Best to read the newspapers for news rather than tv, that way you can decide what you want to know about. Even better, just read a good book, the news is generally just depressing stuff.

[englishvegoboi]

Check out this story from the BBC world service which talks about how migratory birds are being blamed for the spread of avian when the real problem is with the intensive farming of chickens.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4721598.stm

[princessemma]

Best to read the newspapers for news rather than tv, that way you can decide what you want to know about. Even better, just read a good book, the news is generally just depressing stuff.

You're probably right. I just worry about what will happen if it reaches Britain though, I know lots of vegans disagree with keeping birds as pets but my mum has aviaries and pet chickens and I am concerned for them. We also have swans on our local pond and of course they are an endagered species and many of the geese and ducks there we have been feeding since they were babies. I have a soft spot for them, there are a couple of geese with a condition called 'angel wing' where the wing was deformed from birth so they can't fly south in the winter so I keep a special eye on these ones. The thought of someone sticking them into plastic bags and throwing them on the back of a lorry fills me with horror. I suppose to most 'omni's' this sounds insane but at least people on here know I'm not crazy.

[Smell]

I'm gunna be so upset if my dad has to kill our chickens =[[[[

[Tiggerwoo]

I'm gunna be so upset if my dad has to kill our chickens =[[[[

Hopefully it won't come to that. How many do you have. Piccies please! :)

[Jo]

Can your Mum shut the chickens in if needs be? The alternative could be worse if they decide that poultry must go in. I think it will happen, it is in force here again. The first time I had to shut my hens in at the end of last year I only had a small dark hen house. Luckily I have a wonderful caring husband who spent a whole weekend extending the house with a glass roof so it was lighter and bigger, then covering the entire run with small bird proof wire. They seem fine, I hang a cabbage up for them to 'play with' and eat.
Everyone seems much more concerned about the likelihood of the virus affecting the population of 'food stuff' than the threat to all the beautiful wild birds out there. Actually, I believe that they can get immunity (hope so) to it but obviously can still pass it on. The number of poor creatures being killed (heard about the half mill. in a little place in India on the radio last night) is horrendous.
As I said, I don't watch the news, all too much in my face.:(

[Kiran]

Bird Flu hits India

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/feb/20flu1.htm
.

[KarmaGirl]

'It is thought likely that the children contracted the virus while playing with the heads of dead chickens infected with bird flu, he added.'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,14207,1680613,00.html

"playing" with the heads of dead chickens? That is so nasty.....

I feel bad for all the chickens that will be killed "just in case" they were infected, just like they killed all those cows that "may have" been infected with mad cow.

[indianvegan]

Bird Flu hits India

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/feb/20flu1.htm
.

Butter chicken is no longer the dish of choice at the hundreds of restaurants and ‘dhabas’ spread over Maharashtra. Sale of broiler chicken has fallen by 50% to 75% in Mumbai, as many meat-eaters eschewed chicken, over the past few days (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1421998.cms)


Manish Jain.

[Smell]

Hopefully it won't come to that. How many do you have. Piccies please! :)

I had 5 until recently when one got attacked by a stupid farm dog who should have known better.. and the vet had to put her to sleep. So 4. I love themmm =]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/schmurple/4a3888e9.jpg

Theres a pic ^

It sucks though, because they are in there.. they are only in there at night to protect them from foxes though, and there are nesting boxes at the other end.

Have you ever seen a chicken running? Fooking funnnnnny =D

Sorry to be all off topic and everything =P

[Kevster]

Really?

'Factory farming and the international poultry trade are largely responsible for the spread of bird flu, and wild birds are being unfairly blamed for the disease, a new report says.'

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article347790.ece

[Kevster]

What?

'Locked-up birds in flu outbreak will still be sold as free range

Jonathan Leake and Matthew Campbell
BRITAIN has stepped up preparations for an outbreak of avian flu with rules allowing free-range and organic poultry farmers to confine their flocks in sheds without losing their premium status.'

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2059461,00.html

[vuycha]

croatian government declare statewide prohibition of bird-shooting. declared reasons are that shooting on birds disturb flocks and encurage stress situations, moving and mixing of birds. some good out of bad situation.

[indianvegan]

http://www.indianvegan.com/birdflu.jpg

http://www.indianvegan.com/birdflu.jpg

Manish Jain

[piggy]

http://www.indianvegan.com/birdflu.jpg

http://www.indianvegan.com/birdflu.jpg

Manish Jain


cute!!!!

[Kevster]

'Deadly bird flu strain found in cat in Germany
By David Rising, Germany
Published: 28 February 2006

The H5N1 strain of bird flu was confirmed today in a cat in Germany, the first time it has been positively identified in a mammal in Europe, the World Health Organization said.

The cat was found dead over the weekend on the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, where most of Germany's more-than 100 cases of H5N1-infected wild birds have been found, said Thomas Mettenleiter, leader of the Friedrich Loeffler institute lab.'

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article348326.ece

[Blix]

:( [quote=Kevster]'Deadly bird flu strain found in cat in Germany
By David Rising, Germany
Published: 28 February 2006

Yes, I heard this also. I believe the cat was near the infected swan. Also, a lot of other cats in Asia, I believe, were also infected. As cats wander and hunt, I suppose it's a question of people who live in the danger areas should keep their cats under control for the forseeable future to make sure they don't eat anything suspicious, or walk on infected faeces. What do you all think of 'the tony blair' not allowing vaccination?

[Kevster]

Haven't read too much about vaccination, but i find it a bit strange that in France they're vaccinating chickens and ducks to 'protect' them from bird flu, and then they're sending them to the slaughterhouse, that's absurd.

'Pets dumped amid bird flu fears
A wildlife rescue centre says pet birds are being dumped by their owners due to fears over Avian flu. Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, in Nuneaton, has had 12 birds, including budgies, cockatiels and love birds, left in its care in the past week.

Owner Geoff Grewcock said the centre does not usually receive domestic birds unless their owners die or are unwell.

He said people leaving their pets tell him it is due to bird flu, but he said they are panicking unnecessarily.'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/4768742.stm

[RedWellies]

Haven't read too much about vaccination, but i find it a bit strange that in France they're vaccinating chickens and ducks to 'protect' them from bird flu, and then they're sending them to the slaughterhouse, that's absurd.

Ah, but that's probably because they want to protect humans.

[Blueshark]

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4881526.stm)

[Hemlock]

If that's the case and bird flu is over here then don't go and watch V for Vendetta at the local cinema, you will get paranoid!