Re: Bird flu..... the truth

indyshometown wrote:
With thanks to Mary!
email received March 2 2006 from Jim Hungerford of Intervet UK

Dear Mary,

I've attached the press release and Q&A's that we have sent out here
in the UK about vaccination.

As it says, our position is that zoo and free range birds should
receive preventative vaccination.

The idea has merit - it also has risks

<much snippage for brevity of bits I have not specifically addressed here>

Our reasoning is that these are the
birds most at risk and they are solidly protected for 12 months after
the two doses of vaccine - if they are exposed to any virus it will
not become established or be transmitted

Except Intervets own data states there is "a reduction of viral excretion
and transmission after challenge [...] after vaccination
Not that there is NONE

They also suggest that a non emergency programme of vaccination is 6 - 10
weeks apart

They also state that there has been no testing for efficacy in any species
other than chickens, ducks and turkeys so they don't "know" how it works in
exotics

(as exposure is an
unpredictable risk with migrating waterfowl, we believe vaccination
should start now to ensure these birds are protected as soon as
possible). The use of non-vaccinated sentinel birds and antibody
(DIVA) testing provides the appropriate assurance of vaccination,
non-exposure and non-infection. The government proposal of waiting
for an outbreak will require slaughter of the exposed birds (clearly
unacceptable in a zoo situation)

Each zoo should assess their own risk and look to moving the most vulnerable
species to low risk locations
This is a basic HACCP procedure - there is plenty of epidemiology for them
to make such an assessment and it would be criminal if they are not doing so

and the emergency vaccination and
quarantine in the surrounding zone. If despite this the infection
spread, I can't see society accepting a repeat of the terrible scenes
that we saw during the FMD crisis, and I hate to think what it would
do to our agriculture.

This is irresponsible and inaccurate - this virus does not spread in teh
same way. The spread is contact not air borne

Also, the proposal to house free range birds
for months in buildings that are only designed for overnight use
poses major animal welfare problems.

They have had / will have had months to prepare fully adequate quarters for
next autumn

Finally, emergency vaccination
(with a single dose) is never as good as the full course of two doses.

You can see why we are supporting preventative vaccination of these
birds!

And the cynical view that they are only ones selling the stuff is not an
issue?



As the UK government takes precautionary measures and places an order
for over 2 million doses of Nobilis Influenza, the only vaccine
licensed in the UK to protect birds against the H5N1 avian flu strain,
Intervet UK sets out the argument for vaccines. General Manager of
Intervet UK, Jim Hungerford, answers some of the topical questions.



1. Why do you have a vaccine for the H5N2 strain of avian flu
when it is the H5N1 strain that is causing the problem?

Intervet produces a H5N2 vaccine, which is closely related to the
present H5N1 strain so that it induces protection, but also allows
differentiation of vaccinated versus infected birds.

Except there is not a very accurate test yet so they require unvaccinated
sentinels as the only secure way to tell

The first injection will provide protection against clinical disease
from at least 2 weeks onwards and reduce excretion of virus
dramatically. As a result, it will reduce the spread of disease and,
for the few birds that do get infected the amount of virus produced
will be drastically reduced.

but not completely as intimated above




3. Are there any vaccination methods other than injection?
The vaccines currently used are inactivated vaccines, which means that
the virus is inactivated (not live) and in order to get a good immune
response the vaccine has to be injected. Intervet is investigating
the possibilities for mass application, which could be for example
spray or water application. However, this does require developing a
new type of vaccine, e.g. by applying biotech methods. Research
projects are in an early stage and it will take time before such a
product can be registered and then brought to the market.

Despite the fact that they have had years to get this done as this has been
on the cards for so long



4. How can vaccinated animals be differentiated from infected
animals?

Intervet's vaccine is based on a different strain (H5N2) than the
current field strain (H5N1). Because the vaccine is based on a H5
strain it fully protects against all H5 viruses.

Its also mixed up with H7 virus and H9 virus


5. Does the vaccination mask field infection?

No. Vaccinated chickens may rarely still become infected. A minority
of these few chickens may still excrete a very limited amount of
virus. However, the amount of virus is too small to infect other
birds. The excretion is so limited that it does not lead to the
transmission of the virus.

This has not been borne out in the "field"
And is not what they say in their Data ***


In Hong Kong, Intervet's vaccine has been used extensively on
infected farms. On these farms virus transmission was blocked
completely from 18 days after vaccination. Vaccinated birds no longer
transmitted the virus and did not turn into carriers.

Mass culling was also used to control the spread off the virus
Vaccination does not preclude culling as the control of the virus from any
otehr outbreak experience
The only countries to successfully control the virus to date have have a
VERY efficient culling programme around each and every outbreak

7. Is it safe to eat birds vaccinated with inactivated AI
vaccine?

Yes, it is perfectly safe. To keep birds healthy, all of our
commercial British poultry are vaccinated routinely against various
diseases, so of course poultry products from those vaccinated birds
are safe for consumption. This is the same for birds vaccinated with
Nobilis Influenza. The withdrawal period for the vaccine is zero
days. (The withdrawal period is the time which passes between the
last dose of a medicine given to the animal and the time when it can
be used for human consumption).



No information is available on the safety of the vaccine for birds in lay


Therefore, it is both safe and effective for poultry to be vaccinated
and safe for people to eat birds that have been vaccinated. There is
also no risk associated with eating eggs from vaccinated hens. It is
important to emphasise that avian flu cannot be passed on by eating
poultry or eggs.

If the meat is properly cooked
Raw infected chicken is a definate proven risk

Oh - and by the way the vaccination hurts like hell and can lead to the loss
of fingers if injected into a human hand


14. What is your recommendation regarding vaccination?

Intervet is recommending that the UK's free range hens (approximately
9 million) and other outdoor birds are vaccinated to help in the fight
to keep avian flu out of the UK's poultry flock.

Vaccination may offer some protection once here but it will not stop it
coming here
It is very likely to make monitering the spread VERY much more difficult
This situation is far from clear cut

15. Wouldn't it be cheaper just to move the free range hens indoors?

While this is a good theoretical solution, we believe that it would be
impossible to achieve in reality without serious welfare implications.
Some free range farmers will not have the facilities to do this and
hens that are not used to being kept in close proximity have a
tendency to fight. A pro-active vaccination policy will also help
avoid the need for millions of birds to be destroyed should an
outbreak occur.

This is not entirely accurate

It is very interesting that you promote a company who has the MOST to make
out of this situation
Are you having your birds vaccinated?
What undercover facilities have you made for your lots of chickens roaming
around?


This is a far from simple situation and this is far from the complete answer

--


regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


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