Surprisingly groups in the UK are protesting at authorities for allowing the imports of pet birds from the European Union without them having to be quarantined.
Though Bird flu (avian flu) is rapidly spreading through the European Union, but has not reached the UK., but the way it is spreading throughout the world, it would be a very much childish thinking to sit and wait till it catches U.K.
However, groups such as Birds First, say the UK is vulnerable to bird flu infection by allowing pet birds into the country from the EU without having to quarantine them. They are often imported and then sold at pet fairs. ‘Birds First’ campaigns to end the pet bird trade.
According to the UK government, birds cannot be imported from a facility which had had bird flu infection within the previous 30 days.
Different groups, representing different interests, say different things. A spokesman for the ‘Parrot Society’ said that the pet bird trade is not the threat - it is the movement of migratory birds. If birds are kept in cages, how can they be infected, the society says.
However, common people in Britain are becoming increasingly concerned, as more birds come down with the H5N1 virus.
link [www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=38467]
Filed under Bird Flu, Entirely Pets | Comment Below
Related?
Avian Flu: EU May Ban All Pet Bird ImportsOctober 24th, 2005 The deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu was found in a South American parrot that died in quarantine in the U.K. The U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the strain of H5N1 found in the parrot is a close match to a strain identified in China earlier this year.
Pet birds get their own cooler in JodhpurMay 13th, 2009 JODHPUR - A resident of Jodhpur has designed a miniature cooler to provide relief to his pet birds from the scorching heat. Perched in their cages, the birds cool themselves in front of the cooler, which has been designed by their owner Mohammed Afzal.
20 migratory birds found dead in Himachal PradeshJanuary 22nd, 2009 SHIMLA - Twenty migratory birds were found dead near Himachal Pradesh's internationally recognised Pong Dam wetlands Friday but the authorities ruled out any symptom of bird flu in them. 'This morning, our staff noticed 20 dead migratory birds in a forest area near Pong Dam reservoir in Kangra district,' Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) S.K.
Birds Can Identify LanguagesFebruary 10th, 2006 Pet birds can not only imitate sounds, they can distinguish between languages, potentially offering new clues on how the brain recognises speech, Japanese researchers say. It has already been confirmed that monkeys, mice and other mammals can recognise different languages but this is the first time that birds have been found to possess the ability, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported.
Bird Flu: The 20th Case Diagnosed in ThailandOctober 31st, 2005 A 50 year old woman in a northern suburb of Bangkok has been diagnosed with the deadly bird flu. Thailand's 20th victim of the disease since 2003, a health official said Monday.
Haripura Water Park in Uttarakhand being developedMarch 16th, 2009 DINESHPUR - Authorities in Uttarakhand are keen to develop the Haripura Water Park, frequented by bird watchers as a prominent tourist destination to spot Siberian cranes and other migratory birds. Haripura Water Park, located near the Hariprua Dam, overlaps the Districts of Udahm Singh Nagar and Nainital.
Pet Birds To Be Killed As A Precaution Against Bird Flu?October 24th, 2005 UAE says kill pet birds. Abu Dhabi officials have told residents to kill pet birds or chickens as a precaution against bird flu, reported Gulf News.
Migratory birds not choosy about selecting their rest stopsAugust 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study Purdue University study researchers has found that migratory birds are not choosy about selecting their rest stops. In the study, John Dunning, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources, Purdue University, found that migrating birds are just as likely to stop in small woodlots in the middle of an agricultural field for the night as stopping by a lush, protected forest, provided there is adequate protection and food.
