Avian Flu scare in Fraser Valley

[pgnanddove]

Hello folks,

Many of you may aware of the situation that avian flu has been detected in Fraser Valley, British Columbia, in Canada. Because of this reason, BC government decided to cull all 19 million birds in Fraser Valley. This includes all pigeons. This is according to a news article.
I feel sorry for the birds and I feel sorry for all the fanciers and racers. Some of the CRPU members have been racing for generations and so are their pigeons. Some birds are great winners too.

Now, I don't know how serious this issue is in FV, BC, but is there any vaccination for Avian Flu? I have heard of regular flu vaccinations, but avian flu happened to be a different strain.

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pgn&dove

[John_D]

This is horrific! Bad enough slaughtering millions of poultry - Why pigeons too, I didn't think it had been shown that they could get or carry avian flu?

Found this link
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/London...17/426086.html

John

[birdlover000]

Here is about it too, wow, I feel really bad!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry!

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_04_05/en/

[Reti]

That's tragic, for all the poor little birds.
Reti

[birdlover000]

I know, the poor birds, will they kill them?

[KIPPY]

sorry to say, but it doesn't seem like there's anything we can do about it.
they have the canadian seal hunt going on right now. with all the publicity and protestors the government doesn't seem to care.
it can be a cruel and sickening world sometimes.

[dovemom]

My husband mentioned the other day that a guy was trying to sneak his racing pigeons out of B.C. and got caught. Sorry I don't know the whole story yet, but apparently he had to turn them over to authorities. An older lady was caught with her budgie in a cage in her vehicle and was asked to turn around and take it home as no birds were allowed outside the province. Brother!!

[pgnanddove]

John_d,
I don't think it has been proven that pigeon carry this, but the government considers that all bird should go to contain it. However, if they consider all birds, then a crow (notorious for geting infected/spreading westnile), a falcon, eagle...etc can easily spread. Even a sparrow can spread this. I personally don't think that the racing or fancy pegions can get infected and spread, because the owners are serious about this and they always take good care of the birds. The main reason is "winning" and having a winner is the main goal as opposed to making money for living as in chicken farms etc.

Kippy,
I don't think the government cares. When did they care the last time?

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pgn&dove

[pgnanddove]

dovemom,

I heard similar stories and it could be true.
I see that you live in Alberta. Is it any better there? If it can spread that quickly, it will be in Alberta in no time. I am already worried, even though I am in Ontario. Most of all, I feel for the birds and the owners. Hope and pray that this pass us soon and vaccine is available.

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pgn&dove

[maryco]

Hello.

This is very sad, I've seen the lady with the budgie in her car as well..

I don't know if pigeons can or can not carry/get it but I've seen them cull the pigeons in china or thailand were they also had the bird flu..

It's so very sad.. I hope things get better..

Mary

[WhiteWingsCa]

That is "old" news...

the "new" news is that a prominent avian vet and a lawyer traveled to BC two weeks ago (before Easter), and filed several injunctions with the ministry, effectively putting a "hold" on the killing of pigeons, as well as parrots, budgies, etc.

Yes, a couple of lofts of rollers and fancy pigeons were destroyed before this happened, unfortunately.

No, at this time, no more pigeons will be killed -- there is extensive research and studies proving that pigeons cannot get AF, nor do they appear to be 'carriers' of it. There is more research being done at this time, to validate the previous studies. In the meantime, the pigeons are being quarantined -- much like the ones in California last summer. No movement in or out of the area, no flying the birds -- the racing season isn't going to happen for those who race.

The vet who helped out is an acquaintance of ours -- so we (along with several other pigeon fanciers) have been kept "in the loop" all along. What you see/hear on the news right now isn't necessarily what is really going on -- remember, the media loves to sensationalize things!

[Reti]

Hi WhiteWings,
this is good news. Thank you.
Reti

[maryco]

Yes it sure is.. Thanks Janine..

Mary

[Birdmom4ever]

Thank you such much for the update Whitewings. And Kudos to that courageous vet for taking action.

What baffles me about the practice of destroying domestic birds whenever there is a disease outbreak is this: How can they expect to contain it when wild birds fly everywhere? They can't kill every bird in the country! (Nor should they!) It just seems to me that strict quarantines should be sufficient. I can understand them destroying birds that test positive or obviously have a disease, but not wholesale slaughter of healthy birds.

Any disease outbreak involving birds frightens me, because I would be devastated if authorities came in and killed all my pets. I just can't imagine how horrible that would be.

[KIPPY]

GREAT NEWS WHITEWINGSCA!
if that happened where i live i would be hiding the birds in my walk in closet, i'm serious!