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Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTRY VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (04)
****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Friday, 5 Jan 2007 4:30 PM
From: Joe Dudley<JDUDLEY@EAICORP.COM>
Source: Hong Kong's Information Services Department [edited]
<http://news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/070104/print/070104en05002.htm>


The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has bolstered
inspection and control measures against avian flu after one of 6 bird
carcasses found on Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, tested positive for the H5
virus.

Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Dr Thomas Sit
told reporters today more tests are being conducted on the dead spotted
munias collected on 31 Dec 2006. He expects results in the coming days. As
they are a wild bird residing in Hong Kong, they are more vulnerable to
avian flu from January to March due to cross-contamination with migratory
birds.

The department has enhanced checks on farms and pet shops, with no abnormal
incidents observed so far. Farm and shop owners have been urged to be
vigilant and adopt bio-security measures, while their workers should ensure
good hygiene.

Meanwhile, inspection of imported poultry and market stalls will be
strengthened, and doctors will be informed of the latest situation. They
must notify the Centre for Health Protection of any suspected avian flu
cases. To stop people keeping backyard poultry, Dr Sit said a new round of
village inspections will be conducted. The aviaries in Hong Kong Park, the
Zoological & Botanical Gardens and Kowloon Park have been temporarily
closed. All the birds are healthy.

Precautionary measures and cleaning operations have been enhanced in all
Leisure & Cultural Services Department venues where birds congregate.

Dr Sit called on the public to ensure good hygiene, avoiding contact with
and feeding wild birds. People should wash their hands thoroughly. For more
health tips, click here.

[And from the submitter: "An interesting aspect of the most recent finding
of multiple dead munias in Hong Kong is that the "wild" bird species
involved here is also a common pet species marketed through both the
domestic and international pet trades in China, and that the HK government
is reportedly checking pet stores and aviaries for outbreaks in the wake of
this discovery.

Officials in Hong Kong appear to be acting on the possibility that these
birds could have been captive specimens dumped on the street by an owner or
trader after they died, rather than free-living wild birds.

Birds of this same genus (and perhaps species) were involved in the
outbreak that occurred in the UK quarantine facility in Essex, England
during October 2005.
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/pdf/ai-epidemrep111105.pdf>]"

--
Joseph P. Dudley, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist
Biosecurity and Biosurveillance
EAI Corporation
Arlington, VA 22203
<JDUDLEY@EAICORP.COM>
<DUDLEYJP@SAIC.COM>

[Wouldn't it be boring if everything was as it seemed at first. Thanks Joe.
- Mod.MHJ]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:10318510620375086432::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,35740
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Reality check. At this time last season, the following birds died in Hong Kong. All had the Fujian strain of H5N1.

<TABLE class=resultstable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216636 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992843 </TD><TD>A/common magpie/Hong Kong/2125/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216637 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992844 </TD><TD>A/common magpie/Hong Kong/2256/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216643 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992850 </TD><TD>A/common magpie/Hong Kong/3033/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=184030 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>ISDN184030 </TD><TD>A/Common Magpie/Hong Kong/645/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1662 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216632 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992839 </TD><TD>A/common magpie/Hong Kong/645/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1662 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216631 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992838 </TD><TD>A/crested myna/Hong Kong/540/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1671 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216641 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992848 </TD><TD>A/house crow/Hong Kong/2648/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216642 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992849 </TD><TD>A/house crow/Hong Kong/2858/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=184028 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>ISDN184028 </TD><TD>A/Japanese White Eye/Hong Kong/1038/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1693 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216635 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992842 </TD><TD>A/Japanese white-eye/Hong Kong/1038/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1692 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216640 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992847 </TD><TD>A/large-billed crow/Hong Kong/2512/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216633 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992840 </TD><TD>A/little egret/Hong Kong/718/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1692 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216638 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992845 </TD><TD>A/munia/Hong Kong/2454/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1692 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=184024 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>ISDN184024 </TD><TD>A/Munia/Hong Kong/2454/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1693 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216630 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992837 </TD><TD>A/robin/Hong Kong/366/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1500 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#a7c4ef><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216628 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992835 </TD><TD>A/robin/Hong Kong/75/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1692 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=white><TD align=left><INPUT onclick=setAll(this.checked) type=checkbox value=216639 name=checkbox> </TD><TD class=displaytablerow align=left></TD><TD>DQ992846 </TD><TD>A/white-backed munia/Hong Kong/2469/2006 </TD><TD>HA (4) </TD><TD>1695 </TD><TD>2006 </TD><TD>H5N1 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Wild bird carcass tests positive for deadly avian flu strain in Hong Kong
The Associated Press

Saturday, January 6, 2007
HONG KONG A dead wild bird found in Hong Kong recently has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government said Saturday.

Test results on the dead, scaly-breasted munia recovered from the Causeway Bay shopping and residential district on New Year's Eve were announced in a statement issued by Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Bird flu has killed or prompted the culling of millions birds across Asia since 2003, but Hong Kong hasn't reported a major outbreak since 1997, although there have been occasional cases of the disease.
Hong Kong tested 11,000 birds for the H5 strain of bird flu in 2006 and 17 were positive.

Five other dead birds were found along with the scaly-breasted munia but none tested positive for the H5 strain, officials said earlier this week.

Hong Kong aggressively tests for bird flu because it first appeared here in 1997, when the disease jumped to humans and killed six people. That prompted the government to slaughter the entire poultry population of about 1.5 million birds.

http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=4121424
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=430 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=theme_news_header>Dead bird tests positive for H5N1 </TD></TR><TR><TD>
spacer.gif

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=theme_text vAlign=top align=left>The scaly-breasted munia found dead in Causeway Bay earlier this week was confirmed to be H5N1 positive after a series of laboratory tests, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says.

The carcass was collected by AFCD staff in Leighton Road following a public referral on December 31.

The department reminded people to observe good personal hygiene, adding they should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them.

Meanwhile, the department has urged the public not to release pet birds as they have little chance of surviving in the wild.

Noting a report alleging that there is no control on such imports from the Mainland was incorrect, the department emphasised that all consignments from the Mainland must comply with requirements including health certification, and they are subject to inspection whether they enter by sea, air or land in accordance with Public Health (Animals & Birds) Regulations.

Inspection stepped up
The department has stepped up inspection of the Bird Garden from three times a week to five. Samples are regularly collected for testing for avian influenza viruses.

Of the 2,400 samples that were tested last year, none was positive for bird flu.

Fresh droppings from wild birds including migratory birds are also collected for H5 avian influenza testing. Last year, 6,400 samples were collected and the results were all negative.

As for dead birds collected for testing last year, 17 of about 10,000 birds were tested positive.

http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/070106/html/070106en05007.htm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

HK confirms dead bird carried H5N1 avian flu virus
06 Jan 2007 14:38:30 GMT
<!-- 06 Jan 2007 14:38:30 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove-->
Source: Reuters

<!-- AN5.0 article title end --><!-- AN5.0 article header -->
HONG KONG, Jan 6 (Reuters) - A wild bird found dead in a shopping district in Hong Kong has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza, the government said on Saturday.



The bird, a scaly-breasted Munia, was found in the Causeway Bay district on Dec. 31. Government experts said it might have been infected by migratory birds flocking south.


The H5N1 virus made its first known jump to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six people. So far, it cannot be passed easily from human to human, but experts fear the virus could mutate and cause a pandemic, killing millions.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG192295.htm
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Laboratory tests confirm H5N1 infection in Hong Kong<!-- heading_end -->

</TD><TD vAlign=top rowSpan=5></TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2007-01-06 [FONT=Arial,]HKT[/FONT] 21:01[/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><!-- content -->The Government has confirmed Hong Kong's first case of bird flu since last March. A series of laboratory tests confirmed that a scaly-breasted Munia found dead in Leighton Road in Causeway Bay last week was infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. Hong Kong had been put on bird flu alert on Thursday, after initial tests found that the bird was infected with the H5 flu. Local aviaries were closed down and checks on poultry were strengthened. Winter is the peak bird flu season, and it's also the migratory season for wild birds which are potentially carrying the disease. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has urged the public to avoid any contact with wild birds, and to wash their hands immediately if they do. <!-- content end --><!----stock id ----><!----stock here----><!----stock id end----><!--table--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?englishnews&20070106&56&369500
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Re: Wild bird found dead with H5 in HK shopping district

Florida1 said:
There are several ways to introduce a new viral strain into an environment.
Click to expand...
My point exactly. The trouble with fingering only one part of a complex problem is that it tends to fall apart when the rest are ignored. So--

To sum up-
A bird (whose provenance is unknown) has been found dead with H5N1.
There are multiple avenues by which this bird could have been infected, including (but not limited to):

1. Exposure to infected birds from nearby wet markets (in addition to normal poultry procedures, poultry importation from mainland doubles during the holidays-see above post for link).

2. Exposure to/provenance from infected birds in the pet trade--munias are common cage birds sold as pets, and it's not a wild speculation that their importation or selling might also spike during the holiday. Perhaps they are even sold in wet markets?

3. Exposure to H5N1-contaminated cages, fomites, feed, etc., from above two sources.

4. Exposure to wild migratory birds.

As to the timing of the discovery, two other potential explanations that happen every year involve (1) and (2) above, in addition to migratory birds (although I would appreciate hearing any comprehensive data out there on the timing and species composition of bird migration on HK).

Anything that argues otherwise is a dangerous oversimplification that leaves us vulnerable as a result.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

The wild birds die each year in Hong Kong in January and February when the migratory birds fly through bringing in the latest version of H5N1.

The list I posted were wild birds that died in January and February of 2006 and were infected with the Fujian strain of H5N1. The same thing will happen in January and February of 2007 in Hong Kong.

The same thing happened in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 in Hong Kong.

Woulda, shoulda, coulda not required.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

Thanks FL1 for the link to the map and table. Last year two other munias tested positive for H5N1 from Hong Kong, No.11 and 12 on the map. The most recently tested munia seems to have been collected closest to the location of No. 12, a White-back munia, last year collected on February 20, 2006. (noted in the Niman post above - http://flu.lanl.gov/search/view_record.html?accession=DQ992846&database=fluA )
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTR Y VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (05)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1], [2] Hong Kong
[3] Smuggled birds out of China into Viet Nam

******
[1] Hong Kong
Date: Sat 6 Jan 2007
From: Mark Liao <markliaohk@gmail.com>
Source: Hong Kong Government Press Release [edited]
<http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200701/06/P200701060189.htm>


Scaly-breasted Munia tested positive for H5N1 virus
-----------------------------------------------
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today [6
Jan 2007] that the scaly-breasted Munia found dead in Causeway Bay was
confirmed to be H5N1-positive after a series of laboratory tests.

The carcass was collected by AFCD staff in Leighton Road following a public
referral on 31 Dec 2006.

A department spokesman reminded people to observe good personal hygiene.
"They should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and
clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them," he said.

--
Mark Liao
Stanford University, Class of 2007
Program in Human Biology
<markliaohk@gmail.com>

******
[2] Hong Kong
Date: Sat 6 Jan 2007
From: Martin Williams <martinw01@netvigator.com>


This may be of interest regarding the scaly-breasted Munia: As with records
of dead birds with H5N1 early last year [2006], this is an oddity. Leighton
Road is a curious location for finding a "wild" bird of almost any kind;
one might see sparrows, but I've walked along quite often and not noticed
any birds there. It's urban and more than a stone's throw from even
Victoria Park.

The species is odd too. I haven't seen this species in urban HK, not even
in parks. I've mainly seen it in rural spots, especially in grassy areas
such as former rice fields and wetlands near Deep Bay. I have seen it on
Cheung Chau, where I live, but only occasionally, so there is some evidence
of wandering. According to the HK Bird-watching Society website, this is
one of the 2 most commonly released species at temples, released so people
can supposedly get a karma boost.

There is more information in the thread on the HKBWS site -- including a
distribution map showing that this species wasn't mapped in urban areas,
including Causeway Bay -- as well as an article from the South China
Morning Post on a possible link to bird releases, including the following:
"Richard Corlett, professor of ecology and biodiversity at the University
of Hong Kong, said a complete ban on releasing birds was preferable. 'It is
a danger to public health, because the sellers and buyers come into contact
with birds and bird droppings with none of the precautions that are taken
with poultry, and the birds are then released into the environment', he said.

A study by a post-doctoral student last year [2006] estimated that between
500 000 and a million birds are imported for release every year, Professor
Corlett said. '[These birds] are mostly caught in China. They are not
vaccinated, quarantined or inspected, and they were transported into Hong
Kong in appallingly dirty and crowded conditions. Many of them are sick and
injured,' he said." See
<http://www.hkbws.org.hk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1125>.

--
Martin Williams
<martinw01@netvigator.com>

[This would tend to confirm Joe Dudley's prior comment that the sick and
dead Munia were not "wild," at least not in the strict sense of that word.
Our thanks to Mark and Martin for their input. - Mod.MHJ]

******
[3] Smuggled birds out of China into Viet Nam
Date: 3 Jan 2007
From: Dave Halvorson <halvo002@umn.edu>


Your comments [on the weak actions by the relevant authorities] are true,
but the problem is the 5-fold difference in value of the chicken in China
vs. Viet Nam and the need for people to find food for themselves and their
families.

For a Southeast Asian farmer to lose a chicken is approximately similar to
one of us losing a whole cow. Then, when word gets out that Joe Blow's
chicken (or cow) was killed, but 2 months later he is still waiting for
compensation, how motivated will I be to volunteer that I have sick
chickens (or cows)? No, better to sell them or else kill and eat them.

This is similar to the difference in the U.S. in the value of fowl in the
countryside vs. the live poultry markets of New York City and surrounding
area. Our per capita income is about 10 000 times higher than much of SE
Asia, and yet there is a thriving business moving chickens from the
countryside into the city.

I find it hard to believe that it is possible to regulate HPAI out of
existence by controlling the activities of millions of people trying to
make a buck and feed their families. Rather, it seems to me that efforts
should be directed at providing chickens that are safe to move and
establishing a system of chicken production and marketing that reduces the
ability of the HPAI virus to move about.

--
Dave Halvorson
Extension Veterinarian - Avian Health
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
<halvo002@umn.edu>

[In addition to what Dave says, we have a parallel situation in the US over
the smuggling of drugs from Central and South America, where the production
costs are trivial but the street price in the US is not. And as a result,
we are essentially flooded with the said drugs and their associated
problems, and only a trivial proportion are caught in transit.

From the original report, there was also criminal involvement in the
Chinese chicken export trade in that corner of Viet Nam. The last Newcastle
disease epidemic in Southern California and western Texas revealed that
part of that problem was the covert movement of fighting cocks. In
discussions with my veterinary colleagues at that time, it was clear that
most of the aficionados of that sport carry their birds from place to place
but that some, especially top quality breeding stock, had wings without
feathers, and this involved significant distances. - Mod.MHJ]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:13089003136181924318::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,35765
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

niman said:
AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTR Y VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (05)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

This may be of interest regarding the scaly-breasted Munia: As with records
of dead birds with H5N1 early last year [2006], this is an oddity. Leighton
Road is a curious location for finding a "wild" bird of almost any kind;
one might see sparrows, but I've walked along quite often and not noticed
any birds there. It's urban and more than a stone's throw from even
Victoria Park.

The species is odd too. I haven't seen this species in urban HK, not even
in parks. I've mainly seen it in rural spots, especially in grassy areas
such as former rice fields and wetlands near Deep Bay. I have seen it on
Cheung Chau, where I live, but only occasionally, so there is some evidence
of wandering. According to the HK Bird-watching Society website, this is
one of the 2 most commonly released species at temples, released so people
can supposedly get a karma boost.


http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/f?p=2400:1001:13089003136181924318::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,35765
Click to expand...
Last year's species included robins.

The only thing that is odd is the almost daily propaganda campaign of a society that is supposed to be scientifically oriented.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

niman said:
The only thing that is odd is the almost daily propaganda campaign of a society that is supposed to be scientifically oriented.
Click to expand...

Is this a joke? What is the scientifically-oriented approach to a question? Come up with a comprehensive set of testable hypotheses and gather data to assess their accuracy, or pick a target and hammer away without regard to data?

In one sentence, the two comments filed by a birdwatcher in Hong Kong, with information about Scaly-breasted Munias being uncommon in urban HK and being a commonly released bird from temples (driving a thriving unregulated trade in munias). Furthermore, of the 8 species of birds listed in an earlier post, at least 2 of the species (munia/white-backed munia and Japanese White-eye) are commonly sold in markets. Finally, peak migration in Hong Kong is September-November and late March-early May. All of which begs the question:

Could there be multiple factors driving the spread of H5N1, that vary in importance on a case-by-case basis?

The responsible thing to do would be to investigate said factors for each case, and when we do (in the case of the recent dead SB Munia), we learn that there are many other factors that were at least as likely--and some would say more likely, myself among them--to have resulted in this particular species, in this particular place, contracting H5N1.

Understanding the importance of the multiple modes by which H5N1 can be dispersed is the most important parts of effectively controlling its spread.
And part of propaganda is holding to an agenda without regard for facts. I won't deny that there are birdlovers out there that refuse to acknowledge that wild birds can play a role in transmitting HPAI H5N1; however, that same shortsightedness is being broadcast by others who also have interests to protect, and I would beware the simple explanations to which they cling.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

The road kill remark surprised me, I guess I thought of Munia's as songbirds, not scavengers.


http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Lonchura_punctulata.htm



<table border="0" width="749"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" height="278" valign="top"><table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="57%">[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata
Scaly-breasted Mannikin/Finch, Spotted Munia, Spice Bird/Finch, Nutmeg Finch, Pipit Pinang (Malay)

Scaly-breasted Munias are among the most common Munias and are now quite common in Singapore too. They are found even in urban areas as well as cultivated lands, grasslands, scrub, secondary growth. But they were not so common in earlier records, suggesting that they could have been introduced.

Scaly-breasted Munias specialise in eating grass seeds and sedges, and have large conical beaks adapted for this purpose. They feed both on seeding heads on grass stems, as well as on ripe seeds that have fallen to the ground. They may also snack on small berries, such as those of the Lantana bush. Some have been seen picking at road kills.

Scaly-breasted Munias are highly gregarious and forage in small flocks, sometimes with other Munia species.[/FONT]<!-- #EndEditable --> </td> <td rowspan="2" bgcolor="#cc9999" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park[/FONT]​
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td> <!-- #BeginEditable "status" --> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Main features: Small (11cm) with big heads; large conical bills; brown scaled feathers on white breast and flanks; upperparts plain brown; rump often has greyish tinge; face and throat dusky brown.

Genders look alike.[/FONT]</td> <td bgcolor="#000000">
287.jpg

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo from
Morten Strange[/FONT]​
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Juvenile: Upperparts brown; underparts buffy.

Call: A wide variety of calls for keeping in contact or to express alarm. Described as a disyllabic tut-few; tit-ti, sieuw; or faint kee-dee.

In flight: Rapid fluctuating flight, gliding into cover.

Similar birds: The juveniles of various Munia species look alike. Scaly-breasted juveniles often flock with juveniles of other species.

Status in Singapore: Very resident common throughout the island and North and South offshore islands.

World distribution: India to Taiwan and the Philippines. Introduced in some countries.

Classification: Family Passeridae, some place them in a separate family of Estrildidae. World 386 species, Singapore 16 species.[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- #EndEditable --></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- #BeginEditable "text" -->[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]A large flock foraging in grass would move in a regular pattern. First a few birds would move forwards, followed by another few, and so on in waves. Or the birds at the back would leap-frog over the birds in front. Once a grass patch is thoroughly worked through, the whole flock would fly off to another patch. Smaller flocks feed haphazardly. At the end of the day, they may gather in flocks at the topmost branches of a bare or open tree, calling to each other. They then disperse to roost in smaller groups or pairs within nests, even outside the breeding season. Sometimes, up to a dozen birds may squeeze into a nest. These roosting nests are spread far apart. They may also roost with other Munias or even with weaver birds.

Breeding: Scaly-breasted Munias breed year round and may have multiple broods on a good year, up to 3-4 broods. The males perform a courting song, which may attract another male or even several. These males perch close to the singer and peer intently at his bill. This behaviour is called "peering". A male also entices a female by flying about with a bit of grass in his bill and flickering his wings and tail. If the female is interested, she too picks up a bit of grass and flickers her wings.

Scaly-breasted Munias build well hidden nests 4-5m high in thorny bushes, trees, creepers, or high in the crowns of palms. Often, the only way you can spot the location is to see the bird carrying nesting material into its hiding place. Sometimes they nest in bushes infested by ants, which appear to leave the birds alone and provide them some protection. Unlike their roosting nests, breeding nests may be built closer together in a colony. The male brings nesting materials while the female builds, often from the inside. In some, the breeding nest is later used as a roosting nest.

The nest is an untidy globe made out of grass and bamboo leaves, with a side entrance. It is lined with soft fluffy seeds or feathers. The nest are not woven and material is simply pushed together. But the nests are well-made, robust and waterproof. The birds work tirelessly and the nest can become an enormous globe. 5-6 white eggs are laid, although sometimes more eggs are found, probably laid by more than one female. Both parents incubate. The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and the young are fed entirely vegetable matter, which is regurgitated by the parents. They fledge in 18-19 days. Juveniles often form their own flocks after leaving their parents, and wander about together.

Scaly-breasted Munias are often hunted by birds of prey. When a flock flies some distance, although the whole group flies in a a direct manner, within the flock, each bird follows an erratic corkscrewing path. This makes it hard for birds of prey to target a single individual.

Status and threats: Scaly-breasted Munias are often considered a pest on paddy and other grain crops. Children are encouraged to destroy their nests as a means of controlling them. In some countries, they are caught in large numbers for the table, and for the pet trade.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]REFERENCES[/FONT]<!-- #EndEditable --></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="29" valign="top" width="16%"> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td height="41" width="32%"> </td> <td height="41" valign="top" width="68%">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To buy these references & others, visit
Nature's Niche[/FONT]</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td colspan="2" height="29" valign="top"><!-- #BeginEditable "refs" -->
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Morten Strange, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Malaysia and Singapore: including Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Borneo", Periplus, 2000 (p. 372: description, voice, habits, distribution, status, photo).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Morten Strange, "Birds of Southeast Asia: A photographic guide to the birds of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia", New Holland, 1998 (p. 99: photo, facts).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Lim Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, "Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore", Sun Tree Publishing Ltd., 1997 (p. 121: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, diagram, number of species).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Clive Briffett, "A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore", BP Science Centre,1992 (p. 138: habit, habitat).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]G W H Davison and Chew Yen Fook, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", New Holland Publishers Ltd., 1995 (p. 128: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, photo).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Morten Strange and Allen Jeyarajasingam, "Birds: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", Sun Tree Publishing, 1993 (p. 94: description, distribution, habits, habitat, photo).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Christopher Hails, "Birds of Singapore" illustrated by Frank Jarvis, Times Editions, 1987 reprinted 1995 (p. 156: habits, description, status in Singapore, and lovely drawings of the birds).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Lim Kim Seng, "Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore", Nature Society (Singapore), 1999 (Abundance, status, Chinese and Malay names).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]M W F Tweedie, "Common Birds of the Malay Peninsula", Longman,1970 (p. 62: description, distribution, habits, habitat, drawing).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]G C Madoc, "An Introduction to Malayan Birds", Malayan Nature Society, 1947 (p. 217: description, habits, habitat).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Sir John A S Bucknill and E N Chasen, "Birds of Singapore and South-East Asia", Tynron Press, 1927, edition 1990 (p. 210-211: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, field notes on habits, drawings).[/FONT]
  • [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Robin Restall, "Munias and Mannikins", Pica Press, 1996 (p. 97-103: identification, status, distribution, field notes on habits, drawings).[/FONT]
</td></tr></tbody></table>
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

My husband is in Shanghai on business, now I know that Hong Kong is a long way from Shanghai, but he mentioned something I thought was very interesting this morning when he IM'd me.

It seems there is a park near where he is working. He says that he noticed at lunch today that their seemed to be some kind of meeting at the park. There were several older Chinese people who had brought their pet birds along in cages.

He asked someone at work about it, apparently this is common, at least in this park, for bird owners to bring their birds together like this. Some were not in cages, but were loose on the ground hopping around with a few other birds that appeared to be wild. He thought this because some flew away and some did not, rather the owners occasionally went to them and moved them back closer to the group. He didn't approach the group to ask, but thought they must have had their wings clipped.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

canagica said:
Is this a joke? What is the scientifically-oriented approach to a question? Come up with a comprehensive set of testable hypotheses and gather data to assess their accuracy, or pick a target and hammer away without regard to data?

In one sentence, the two comments filed by a birdwatcher in Hong Kong, with information about Scaly-breasted Munias being uncommon in urban HK and being a commonly released bird from temples (driving a thriving unregulated trade in munias). Furthermore, of the 8 species of birds listed in an earlier post, at least 2 of the species (munia/white-backed munia and Japanese White-eye) are commonly sold in markets. Finally, peak migration in Hong Kong is September-November and late March-early May. All of which begs the question:

Could there be multiple factors driving the spread of H5N1, that vary in importance on a case-by-case basis?

The responsible thing to do would be to investigate said factors for each case, and when we do (in the case of the recent dead SB Munia), we learn that there are many other factors that were at least as likely--and some would say more likely, myself among them--to have resulted in this particular species, in this particular place, contracting H5N1.

Understanding the importance of the multiple modes by which H5N1 can be dispersed is the most important parts of effectively controlling its spread.
And part of propaganda is holding to an agenda without regard for facts. I won't deny that there are birdlovers out there that refuse to acknowledge that wild birds can play a role in transmitting HPAI H5N1; however, that same shortsightedness is being broadcast by others who also have interests to protect, and I would beware the simple explanations to which they cling.
Click to expand...
It is no joke. Promed puts out daily propaganda from "wild birds as victims" to dead birds don't fly" to the latest on wild bird deaths in Hong kong in January and February. This happenms every year in Hong Kong at this time when the H5N1 comes flying in.

The story is in the sequence, and the sequences are transported and transmittted by wild birds.
 
Re: Wild bird found dead with H5N1 in HK shopping district

niman said:
Promed puts out daily propaganda...
The story is in the sequence, and the sequences are transported and transmittted by wild birds.
Click to expand...

So-
despite the publications in numerous scientific journals fingering the poultry industry/bird trade/etc, the findings by the FAO, the actions of governments to halt importation of poultry from H5N1-infected countries, the only way to transmit or transport H5N1 is via wild birds?

Or specific to this case of the SB Munia in HK--the seasonal increases in poultry import, the cage bird trade, the cultural custom of releasing this particular species, the natural history of this species (which makes it an uncommon denizen of urban areas), the timing of peak migration--none of it matters?

I guess I misread one of the above-mentioned sources...Lots of sources are known for their unwavering allegiance to a particular idea; if we are going to list Promed as a propaganda source, might it also be accurate to list Recombinomics, as it takes a similar (if opposite) hard line? To be honest, I read ProMed and I find that posters do from time to time acknowledge that wild birds play a role in spreading HPAI H5N1

The mission statement of Flutrackers states that it is "dedicated to the public health of the world?s citizens by advancing policies, protocols, innovations, and practices that improve the health of vulnerable populations. We will enhance the health of communities by informing, educating, developing and maintaining integrated programs."

In order to do so we must strive to understand the problem in order to solve it as best we can, and in the case of dispersal and transmission of HPAI H5N1, that problem consists of multiple factors including (among others) poultry and its attendant contamination, the bird trade, and migratory/wild birds. Stay focused on one and another will bite you instead...
 
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