very appropriate technology for mass vaccination , page-4

re: clearly this is a major catastrophe that is ev July 15, 2005




MIGRATORY birds that share their time between the northern hemisphere and south-west Victoria have the potential to spread a deadly strain of bird flu that has already killed 53 people.

A stronger version of the H5N1 avian influenza virus has infected tens of thousands of migratory birds in China's Qinghai province, causing concern they might carry the virus to Australia.

The federal Department of Agriculture has warned that if Australian wader birds came into contact with nomadic birds it could pose a risk of the disease spreading.

Barbara Garrett, a committee member of the Sou' West Bird Observers Club, said tens of species of migratory waders could be found in the south-west, including red-necked stints, golden plovers, sanderlings, Japanese snipe, godwits and turnstones.

"It's quite well known that we do have a lot of birdlife in this area and there's a lot in Portland as well. It's known as a migratory bird place," she said.



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Federal Department of Agriculture spokesman, Howard Conkey, said the Government was well aware the H5N1 bird flu virus could be brought to Australia by migratory birds.

"It's a potential risk. There's 50 million migratory birds that land in Australia from spring onwards," he said yesterday. "If there's 50 million there's a fair choice of species there.

"There's not a direct threat, but if shore waders came into contact with nomadic birds such as ducks and other water fowl it could potentially pose a risk because they can go inland and possibly pass bird flu on to production birds.