The bodies of 32 birds that died in quarantine in the United Kingdom before the death of the parrot Oct. 16 are being tested for avian influenza. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett has confirmed that a number of them have tested positive for H5N1 antibodies.

In response, the United Kingdom is introducing new measures to combat the potential pandemic, including a case-by-case risk assessment for individual birds before they are released from quarantine.

Additionally, bird shows, markets and fairs are to be banned unless declared safe by experts, a register of commercial poultry producers is currently being designed, and the possibility of keeping all poultry indoors is under discussion with industry representatives.

European Union food-safety representatives Wednesday released guidelines for the safe consumption of poultry and eggs. In what many have judged to be self-evident advice, consumers are being warned not to eat raw eggs or undercooked poultry.

Member states have criticized the EU for spreading panic, as there have not been any indications that bird flu can be caught from the consumption of eggs, whether raw, soft-boiled or fully cooked.

This follows an EU-wide ban on the import of live birds. An English bird preserve working in conjunction with a similar venture in South Africa has had to abandon its breeding program in the face of new legislation.

Elsewhere:

-- Australia has strengthened its quarantine regulations in an attempt to prevent avian influenza from landing on its shores. All imports of birds and hatching eggs will be tested for H5N1 antibodies both at point of departure and upon arrival in the country.

-- Although no bird flu has yet been detected in Africa, experts say this cannot be taken as a positive sign. The limited resources and poor infrastructure present in parts of the country, combined with the presence of other diseases, means that outbreaks of the potentially fatal H5N1 strain of avian influenza may go undetected.

-- China has reported its third outbreak in less than a week, with hundreds of birds found dead in the central Hunan province.

-- Although no cases of bird flu have yet been detected in India, the country's health minister has said that Indian companies could make generic versions of the anti-virals expected to best combat the potential spread of the disease. Two Indian pharmaceutical companies have sought permission from Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, to make the drug under license.

The concern with avian influenza is that it might combine with a form of influenza transmissible from human to human and set off a deadly pandemic.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express