$7.1 Billion Dollar Bird Flu Boondoggle

[Guest guest]

http://tinyurl.com/pagvs

Scientists still in the dark over spread of bird flu

Wed May 31, 10:04 AM ET

Bird flu experts from more than 100 countries admitted they have "a long way to go" to understand the possibly critical role of wild birds in spreading the disease, following a two-day conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Among the main conclusions of the meeting was the need for greater cooperation between countries in order to pool information, the FAO's chief veterinary officer ph Domenech told a news conference.

"There is a need for more cooperation to be able to assemble all the pieces of information that we already have, like fitting together the pieces of a puzzle," said Domenech.

"We still have a long way to go to fully understand the disease," he said.

The main problem, he said, is that no one knows for sure whether wild birds can act as long-term reservoirs for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1.

Migratory birds are known to carry the virus long distances, and in early spring, large-scale outbreaks of H5N1 were feared across Africa due to migrating bird flocks.

However scientists hit a wall when bird flu outbreaks were much fewer than expected but, worryingly, found nothing to link the outbreaks with wild birds. (NOTE: Is this grounds for a tax-payer REFUND of say....$7.1 billion dollars extorted by this boondoggle?)

(WARNING! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR INCREDIBLY FUNNY REASONING)

"Before saying there is no role for wild birds in Africa we should be careful, however. We have to wait a little bit," said Domenech, particularly given that evidence of sick or dead birds can quickly disappear.

"A dead bird doesn't stay on the ground for very long in countries where there are hyenas and vultures ready to eat them up." (At least he didn't blame prairie dogs or dingoes)

Lubroth of FAO told journalists that the past six months had brought progress in some areas and increased concern in others.

"We do think that the HPAI crisis around the world is not going to go away in six months, we need to keep our guard up for many years to come," he said.

"We are more concerned in certain parts of the world, but do feel we have made strong advances in detecting the disease and protecting poultry and food in others," Lubroth said.

But he said the conference had shown that "systems and structures in many parts of the world need to be strengthened and updated."

Christianne Bruschke, coordinator of the bird flu task force at the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), highlighted concerns that "some countries" may be under-reporting bird flu outbreaks.

"We think that there might be underreporting but I think most countries do not do this deliberately. Not enough countries have laboratory facilities.

"Obviously reporting in many countries could be improved," said Gideon Bruckner, the OIE's top scientist.

The experts were unable to quantify the economic cost of bird flu, saying there was a need for ongoing assessment.

"More than 200 million chickens have died or been culled, causing huge losses to exporting countries like Thailand and China," said Domenech. "There have been big losses because of falling consumption in Europe. In Italy at the height of the crisis in February and March the decrease in consumption was 50 percent, in France 20 percent. It's a huge, huge economic impact."

[Guest guest]

This is a job for Professor Clousseau!!!!

$7.1 Billion Dollar Bird Flu Boondoggle

http://tinyurl.com/pagvs

Scientists still in the dark over spread of bird flu

Wed May 31, 10:04 AM ET

Bird flu experts from more than 100 countries admitted they have "a long way to go" to understand the possibly critical role of wild birds in spreading the disease, following a two-day conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Among the main conclusions of the meeting was the need for greater cooperation between countries in order to pool information, the FAO's chief veterinary officer ph Domenech told a news conference.

"There is a need for more cooperation to be able to assemble all the pieces of information that we already have, like fitting together the pieces of a puzzle," said Domenech.

"We still have a long way to go to fully understand the disease," he said.

The main problem, he said, is that no one knows for sure whether wild birds can act as long-term reservoirs for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1.

Migratory birds are known to carry the virus long distances, and in early spring, large-scale outbreaks of H5N1 were feared across Africa due to migrating bird flocks.

However scientists hit a wall when bird flu outbreaks were much fewer than expected but, worryingly, found nothing to link the outbreaks with wild birds. (NOTE: Is this grounds for a tax-payer REFUND of say....$7.1 billion dollars extorted by this boondoggle?)

(WARNING! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR INCREDIBLY FUNNY REASONING)

"Before saying there is no role for wild birds in Africa we should be careful, however. We have to wait a little bit," said Domenech, particularly given that evidence of sick or dead birds can quickly disappear.

"A dead bird doesn't stay on the ground for very long in countries where there are hyenas and vultures ready to eat them up." (At least he didn't blame prairie dogs or dingoes)

Lubroth of FAO told journalists that the past six months had brought progress in some areas and increased concern in others.

"We do think that the HPAI crisis around the world is not going to go away in six months, we need to keep our guard up for many years to come," he said.

"We are more concerned in certain parts of the world, but do feel we have made strong advances in detecting the disease and protecting poultry and food in others," Lubroth said.

But he said the conference had shown that "systems and structures in many parts of the world need to be strengthened and updated."

Christianne Bruschke, coordinator of the bird flu task force at the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), highlighted concerns that "some countries" may be under-reporting bird flu outbreaks.

"We think that there might be underreporting but I think most countries do not do this deliberately. Not enough countries have laboratory facilities.

"Obviously reporting in many countries could be improved," said Gideon Bruckner, the OIE's top scientist.

The experts were unable to quantify the economic cost of bird flu, saying there was a need for ongoing assessment.

"More than 200 million chickens have died or been culled, causing huge losses to exporting countries like Thailand and China," said Domenech. "There have been big losses because of falling consumption in Europe. In Italy at the height of the crisis in February and March the decrease in consumption was 50 percent, in France 20 percent. It's a huge, huge economic impact."

[Guest guest]

Or OJ.

$7.1 Billion Dollar Bird Flu Boondoggle

http://tinyurl.com/pagvs

Scientists still in the dark over spread of bird flu

Wed May 31, 10:04 AM ET

Bird flu experts from more than 100 countries admitted they have "a long way to go" to understand the possibly critical role of wild birds in spreading the disease, following a two-day conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Among the main conclusions of the meeting was the need for greater cooperation between countries in order to pool information, the FAO's chief veterinary officer ph Domenech told a news conference.

"There is a need for more cooperation to be able to assemble all the pieces of information that we already have, like fitting together the pieces of a puzzle," said Domenech.

"We still have a long way to go to fully understand the disease," he said.

The main problem, he said, is that no one knows for sure whether wild birds can act as long-term reservoirs for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1.

Migratory birds are known to carry the virus long distances, and in early spring, large-scale outbreaks of H5N1 were feared across Africa due to migrating bird flocks.

However scientists hit a wall when bird flu outbreaks were much fewer than expected but, worryingly, found nothing to link the outbreaks with wild birds. (NOTE: Is this grounds for a tax-payer REFUND of say....$7.1 billion dollars extorted by this boondoggle?)

(WARNING! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR INCREDIBLY FUNNY REASONING)

"Before saying there is no role for wild birds in Africa we should be careful, however. We have to wait a little bit," said Domenech, particularly given that evidence of sick or dead birds can quickly disappear.

"A dead bird doesn't stay on the ground for very long in countries where there are hyenas and vultures ready to eat them up." (At least he didn't blame prairie dogs or dingoes)

Lubroth of FAO told journalists that the past six months had brought progress in some areas and increased concern in others.

"We do think that the HPAI crisis around the world is not going to go away in six months, we need to keep our guard up for many years to come," he said.

"We are more concerned in certain parts of the world, but do feel we have made strong advances in detecting the disease and protecting poultry and food in others," Lubroth said.

But he said the conference had shown that "systems and structures in many parts of the world need to be strengthened and updated."

Christianne Bruschke, coordinator of the bird flu task force at the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), highlighted concerns that "some countries" may be under-reporting bird flu outbreaks.

"We think that there might be underreporting but I think most countries do not do this deliberately. Not enough countries have laboratory facilities.

"Obviously reporting in many countries could be improved," said Gideon Bruckner, the OIE's top scientist.

The experts were unable to quantify the economic cost of bird flu, saying there was a need for ongoing assessment.

"More than 200 million chickens have died or been culled, causing huge losses to exporting countries like Thailand and China," said Domenech. "There have been big losses because of falling consumption in Europe. In Italy at the height of the crisis in February and March the decrease in consumption was 50 percent, in France 20 percent. It's a huge, huge economic impact."

[Guest guest]

How about Senator Byrd?Kerbob <robertbloch@...> wrote: Or OJ. $7.1 Billion Dollar Bird Flu Boondoggle http://tinyurl.com/pagvs Scientists still in the dark over spread of bird flu

Wed May 31, 10:04 AM ET Bird flu experts from more than 100 countries admitted they have "a long way to go" to understand the possibly critical role of wild birds in spreading the disease, following a two-day conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Among the main conclusions of the meeting was the need for greater cooperation between countries in order to pool information, the FAO's chief veterinary officer ph Domenech told a news conference. "There is a need for more cooperation to be able to assemble all the pieces of information that we already have, like fitting together the pieces of a puzzle," said Domenech. "We still have a long way to go to fully understand the disease," he said. The main problem,

he said, is that no one knows for sure whether wild birds can act as long-term reservoirs for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1. Migratory birds are known to carry the virus long distances, and in early spring, large-scale outbreaks of H5N1 were feared across Africa due to migrating bird flocks. However scientists hit a wall when bird flu outbreaks were much fewer than expected but, worryingly, found nothing to link the outbreaks with wild birds. (NOTE: Is this grounds for a tax-payer REFUND of say....$7.1 billion dollars extorted by this boondoggle?) (WARNING! BRACE YOURSELVES FOR INCREDIBLY FUNNY REASONING) "Before saying there is no role for wild birds in Africa we should be careful, however. We have to wait a little bit," said Domenech, particularly given that evidence of sick or dead birds can quickly

disappear. "A dead bird doesn't stay on the ground for very long in countries where there are hyenas and vultures ready to eat them up." (At least he didn't blame prairie dogs or dingoes) Lubroth of FAO told journalists that the past six months had brought progress in some areas and increased concern in others. "We do think that the HPAI crisis around the world is not going to go away in six months, we need to keep our guard up for many years to come," he said. "We are more concerned in certain parts of the world, but do feel we have made strong advances in detecting the disease and protecting poultry and food in others," Lubroth said. But he said the conference had shown that "systems and structures in many parts of the world need to be strengthened and updated." Christianne Bruschke, coordinator of the bird flu task force at the Paris-based World Organisation for

Animal Health (OIE), highlighted concerns that "some countries" may be under-reporting bird flu outbreaks. "We think that there might be underreporting but I think most countries do not do this deliberately. Not enough countries have laboratory facilities. "Obviously reporting in many countries could be improved," said Gideon Bruckner, the OIE's top scientist. The experts were unable to quantify the economic cost of bird flu, saying there was a need for ongoing assessment. "More than 200 million chickens have died or been culled, causing huge losses to exporting countries like Thailand and China," said Domenech. "There have been big losses because of falling consumption in Europe. In Italy at the height of the crisis in February and March the decrease in consumption was 50 percent, in France 20 percent. It's a huge, huge economic impact."

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