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Protecting pet birds from Bird Flu (H5N1)

  
 
Olulabelle
21:44 / 27.02.06
I looked for a thread on bird flu but the one I found related to the disease making the transition between birds and humans and my question is about parrots.

Since Bird Flu has now reached France I am becoming increasingly worried about my parrot, Fawkes.

Is there anything I can do to protect my him against H5N1, since there currently as I understand it, isn't a vaccine for it? He's a baby (10 months old) so he's probably more susceptible to it than a more mature bird.

I've looked online but all the sites seems to be about protecting flock birds. It doesn't help that a parrot died of it in quarantine because loads of links come up about that, so I thought I'd ask here in case there were any vets on Barbelith or anyone else who might know. I might ask in a bird forum too.

He's a lovely parrot.

  
 
All Acting Regiment
21:57 / 27.02.06
Do you keep him inside? I know almost nothing about this area, but it would seem to be safer that way.
 
 
All Acting Regiment
22:02 / 27.02.06
Oh, and he's ace by the way.
 
 
enrieb
22:12 / 27.02.06
In anticipation of the much underexagerated-bird-flu-world-wide-killer-end-of-the-world-epidemic, I have been mass producing anti-bird-flu-scarecrows.

If you would like to purchace an anti-bird-flu-scarecrows plz visit www.gulible.co.uk
 
 
Olulabelle
22:19 / 27.02.06
Well that's really helpful Enrieb, thank you.

Bird flu may very well be much exagerated with regard to the effect it might have on humans, but my parrot is a parrot. That's a kind of bird btw. And in case you missed the news, lots of birds are dying from it.

Legba, we do keep him inside now. We used to take him out everyday but it's been a bit cold as it's winter and now it seems wise not to take him out even when it warms up.
 
 
P. Horus Rhacoid
05:25 / 28.02.06
First I would like to say that that is a supremely awesome bird.

The Phillipines Department of Health Bird Flu FAQ has information which looks useful:

How do outbreaks of bird flu spread within the country?

Domestic birds can get the infection when they:

•roam freely
•share water supply with wild birds
•use a water supply that might be contaminated by infected droppings

Contaminated equipment, vehicles, feeds, cages, or clothing, especially shoes can carry the virus from farm to farm

Wet markets where live chickens and other birds are sold under crowded and sometimes unsanitary conditions

It looks like it's focused more on chickens/food-oriented birds than on pets, but I hope that gives you some ideas. I hope you don't have to stop taking him outside. I have this great image of your parrot on some sort of leash, going for a walk.
 
 
Evil Scientist
08:11 / 28.02.06
In anticipation of the much underexagerated-bird-flu-world-wide-killer-end-of-the-world-epidemic, I have been mass producing anti-bird-flu-scarecrows.

You realise it actually does harm birds don't you enreib?

For a thread regarding the potential spread of avian flu into the human population I suggest you look...

Here.
 
 
enrieb
17:19 / 28.02.06
I am sorry lula it was thoughless of me to post that, I have done a bit of checking to find some links to help Fawkes.

breathingspace.co.uk

This is a summary of some of the points made in the above thread, seems that the flu virus is sensitive to heat and some types of air purifiers can help to kill it.

air purifier

The Flu Virus
The Influenza virus, ( the main flu agent ) has proteins, necessary for the infection thatare sensitive to variations of pH and temperature variable between 55-70 degrees C (6).

Avian Flu
The virus responsible for bird flu can be spread from poultry to humans and up until now around 20 million chickens have been killed in an attempt to control the virus (10).

Transmission and Symptoms.
All birds are succeptible to the avian virus and some types of wild bird are a natural carrier of the Infuenza type A virus.They have a large amount of avian virus in their secretion, saliva and feces that can contaminate domestic poultry upon contact.

In addition to this their droppings or saliva may contaminate water, rivers, food and even humans.
Infected droplets may settle on conjunctival, nasopharyngeal or other respiratory mucosal epithelium
in humans leading to symptons ranging from typical flu like symptons ( e.g ., fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches ) to eye infections ( conjunctivitis ), pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia and other severe and life threatening complications. (13).


Avian Flu characteristics and heat sensitivity.
The avian virus, H5N1, is a negative sense single-stran RNA virus (12), which has two types of proteins: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA)(13). It is known that the virus can be de-activated by 56 degrees C in 3 hours and 60 degreesC in 30 minutes (8). Thus an increase of only 4 degrees speeds the time of de-activation by about 85%.


flu/bird_flu

Can My Pet Bird Get It?
A pet bird could get avian flu if it is exposed to another bird that's carrying the virus. Here are some things you can do to protect your bird and yourself:

Keep your bird and its food and water inside, away from any place where it could be exposed to infected migrating or domestic birds. Don't allow your bird to drink or eat from ponds or other places outdoors that migrating birds may have flown over.



Keep your pet bird's cage clean.


Wash your hands after handling your pet bird, cleaning its cage, or after having any contact with your bird's
secretions (like saliva, feces, or urine).


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

World Health Organization (WHO)

www.parrots-paradise.co.uk
 
 
enrieb
18:59 / 28.02.06
Intervet UK Limited has announced that it has received official marketing authorisation from the UKauthorities for its avian influenza vaccine Nobilis Influenza

This is the first such licence to be issued in the European Union and reflects the company’s considerable expertise in developing and manufacturing a very wide range of poultry vaccines.

Nobilis Influenza can be used to immunise chickens, ducks and other avian species against the H5 strain of avian influenza, which is the type responsible for the current outbreak. Other subtypes covered by the authorisation include H7 and H9 so protection can also be offered against these subtypes that infect poultry.

Nobilis Influenza will only be available from veterinary surgeons under conditions established by European Community legislation on the control of avian influenza. Use of the vaccine must also be authorised by the competent UK authority.

I cannot find a link for the general public to buy nobilis influenza yet, but at least now you have the name of the vaccine and if you know any vets you may be able to get hold of some.
 
 
Olulabelle
21:15 / 28.02.06
Enrieb, thank you so much for all this. It's really kind of you and it certainly helps a lot, especially knowing the name of the vaccine.
 
 
Jack Denfeld
03:37 / 01.03.06
Hey enreib, that's exactly what we need at Barbelith! Someone jokingly annoys another Barbeloid, and besides an apology, you research the problem originally asked about, and provide several useful links! Thumbs up, great job.
 
 
Evil Scientist
07:09 / 01.03.06
Nice work Enrieb!
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
11:56 / 01.03.06
Not wishing to derail the thread any more, but that is indeed EXACTLY what we need more of.
 
 
Olulabelle
00:17 / 02.03.06
It absolutely is and it made me feel really good to come back to the thread and find all that information. It must have been a lot of work, I am hugely grateful and totally smitten with Enrieb now for doing it. It's a brilliant way to fix a problem.
 
 
enrieb
21:05 / 31.03.06
I have managed to find some more information that may be relevant: I cannot vouch for its credibility, none the less here it is.

Tamiflu works against bird flu, study shows

However this other website would seem to contradict the above link, but this story is dated December, 4 2005, while the above link is much more recent dated Jan. 20, 2006
Tamiflu “Useless” Against H5N1 Bird Flu


It should also be noted that the first study is related to the effectiveness of tamiflu in animals, whereas the second study is mostly about the effectiveness of tamiflu against H5 only in humans

A seemingly more balanced view of the effectiveness of tamiflu is shown here
Bird flu in Vietnam resisting Tamiflu although this is also about H5 in humans.

Sadly though in buying tamiflu you could be making this man rich
Donald Rumsfeld Makes $5 Million Killing on Bird Flu Drug

This is a very good but simplified link to anybody who needs somemore basic information about the spread of Avian Flu

Bird Flu What You Need To Know


Sadly I still cannot find any links or information about purchasing Avian Influenza Vaccine. I have found information that states that poultry has been vaccinated or is in the process of vaccination in some of the following countries: China, Russia, France, Netherlands, and Vietnam.

I was wonder if any barbeloids living in these countries could possibly get access to some more information on the availability of any vaccines.
 
 
Olulabelle
21:38 / 31.03.06
Yes please. Is there anyone here living in any of those countries who might be able to garner any information about what the birds there are being vaccinated with?

Enrieb, I heart you.
 
 
enrieb
20:28 / 01.04.06
This is a link for a bird flu vaccine; it would seem that you can buy it over the internet.

Chameleon Ind. Ltd.

The above product reads Bird flu vaccine h5n2 I belive that H5N1 is the form of bird flu we are expecting in the UK.


Warning I am not a qualified vet and cannot say if this product is genuine. YOU should be very, very careful. Look up more information about this product before you decide to use it. Speak to a vet if possible or consult a good domestic bird forum.

Without medical knowledge giving medicine to any animal could cause serious harm, so please find out as much as you can before attempting this.

Also you should balance the risks, is there more risk to your bird from bird flu or from you causing harm by administering a vaccine incorrectly. End Warning
 
 
enrieb
20:58 / 01.04.06
This link has a warning about fake virus cures

China fights fake bird flu vaccines


This is another link selling equipment such as bird flu test kits and a Natural Antiviral Agent For Bird Flu Prevention

ecplaza

Please remember to read the warnings in the post above this one.
 
 
quixote
03:06 / 04.04.06
What a beautiful bird!

I gather the "authorities" (whoever they are) have decided culling farm birds is useless and that vaccination of poultry will be their current focus. That implies the vaccine should be much more widely available. Perhaps it's something you could already get from a vet, especially in a poultry farming district? Remember, though, that any inoculation does carry its own small risk of causing disease and even death. It's my understanding, as others have already said, that keeping the bird indoors and away from any contact with wild birds is enough to keep him safe.
 
  
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