The last year or so there has been a lot of information and misinformation about Avian Influenza. We hope that with the facts and information we provide  below, some of the fears about  the H5N1 Avian Influenza can be calmed. In particular we provide information on how pigeons may or may not be affected by A.I. and the measures that are in place by the Racing Pigeon, Show and Fancy Pigeon Organization in full co-operation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Avian Influenza and Pigeons.

As you are aware, the world is being flooded with daily reports of Avian Influenza, one of the latest of which cites a finding of the H5 serotype in wild ducks in Quebec (28), Manitoba(5) and British Columbia (?). This has become quite a concern for our neighbors and therefore our members and executive. Because of the misinformation that is circulating or maybe lack of proper information, our neighbors and the community in general have begun to look at pigeons as possible sources of infection to themselves or their families. This is not the case.

Over a number of years, several scientific studies, some of them done in Canada, have shown that pigeons are generally resistant to Avian Influenza viruses. More recently in 1996, Dr B Panigrahy and co-workers of the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, USDA in Ames Iowa, showed that pigeons were resistant or only slightly susceptible to Highly Pathogenic or Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses. In 2002, Drs Laura Perkins and David Swayne of the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, USDA/ARS in Athens Georgia, reported that 4-week-old pigeons – some of which were infected with circovirus which severely damages the immune system – did not develop signs of illness and did not shed virus at any time after they were inoculated with a Highly Pathogenic H5 Avian Influenza virus.
A published report from Germany in 2004 showed that pigeons play only a very minor role in H5 infections.
In the summer of 2005, Dr. Swayne indicated by Email that even following direct inoculation of pigeons with a strain of the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 virus, only limited infections occurred in these pigeons. Dr Swayne did note that die offs in pigeons do occur and that the cause most likely is Paramyxovirus, but observers are likely to blame Avian Influenza. Remember to vaccinate against Paramyxovirus to protect your loft (it is still here).
On the basis of this scientific information, it is unlikely that pigeons will have any impact on influenza infections in humans. The primary species that have natural infections, as you and your community have all heard, are wild ducks and geese.

What do we need to know?

THE FACTS!!!!!

Regarding the afore-mentioned findings in ducks from Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, the CFIA noted that the positive findings were due to an H5 subtype but the N type has to be determined as of November 1, 2005.
The detection of the H5 subtype was not unexpected – the virus is common in migratory birds around the world and various types and strains have been found in North America over the last 30 years, with no impact on human health. Otherwise, this is nothing new.
The Public Health agency of Canada has determined that there is no information in these findings that suggest a threat to human health.

What Else?

Here are a few facts from a news release from The US Department of Health and Human services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is bird flu – This is an infection called Avian Influenza that occurs naturally in birds. Wild birds worldwide carry the infection in their intestines, but usually don’t get sick. However it is very contagious and can make some domestic birds such as chickens, turkeys and ducks sick and in some cases cause high mortality.

Do bird flu virus infect humans?

Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but in a few cases they have caused some flu like symptoms.

What is the risk to humans from Bird Flu?

The risk is generally low to most people because the virus occurs mainly among birds and does not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak in domesticated poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have direct contact with the infected birds or surfaces contaminated with excretions from infected birds. This is what has happened in Asia with the outbreak of H5N1 virus we keep hearing about. In the recent outbreak in BC, eye infections occurred in some workers who were closely associated with infected chickens.

The bottom line is we have to be just as concerned about public opinion as we are about the health of our birds when it comes to Avian Influenza. We have to be good ambassadors to our neighbors and community and give them the answers they need, the truth. We must maintain the health of our flocks to avoid compromising their ability to resist infections such as Avian Influenza. Keep them clean and healthy.

If the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 strain of virus now present in Europe, or any other high path serotype that CFIA calls for quarantine, should ever infect poultry in Canada, we need to co-operate locally and possibly nationally, in a complete LOCKDOWN of our birds – no loft exercise, no access to aviaries, no loft visits or exchanges of birds, no shows, no visits to poultry farms or live poultry markets – and if it comes to it, no racing! Our birds can live to race another day! Not only do we need to co-operate fully, but we also have to be SEEN to co-operate. As an example that worked well in preventing Avian Influenza, in the summer of 2005, the Dutch government ordered the complete lockdown of their poultry flocks to avoid exposure to migratory birds.

We are posting the complete information sheet from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on our website. Please take time to read it if you need more information.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gord Chalmers & Tom Cosstick

CRPU Health Committee