ZOS supports the view that wild birds are the victims and not the vectors of avian influenza. The H5N1 virus poses a threat not only to poultry industries and people, but is a conservation threat to wild birds. Two globally threatened species has thus far been affected: up to 10% of the world population of bar-headed geese Anser indicus died at Lake Qinghai in China, while the virus was recently isolated from a red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis in Greece, and samples from a second individual are currently being tested. This is of concern as 90% of the world population of 88 000 is confined to just 5 roosts in Bulgaria and Romania, both of which are affected countries. Unfortunately the media have focused their attention on wild birds as a source of the virus, but in reality most cases of bird flu until recently can be directly linked to human activities.

There are several ways that the virus can be spread. Globally the most important has been the unrestricted movement of poultry and poultry products. This is how the disease spread in south-east Asia, how it is likely to have reached Nigeria, and how it found its way into Russia.

In addition the illegal trade in wild birds has been shown to have transported avian influenza over large distances. An outbreak of bird flu in a quarantine centre in the UK was likely to have been caused by smuggled birds that were 'laundered' into a legally imported consignment.

The use of untreated chicken, duck and other poultry manure as fertilizer and feed for pigs, fish and other livestock is widespread in Asia and Eastern Europe. Birds affected with the H5N1 virus excrete virus particles in their faeces. Placing this untreated faeces onto fields or into fish ponds provides a new source of infection. Manure may be transported over large distances before being used and is a highly effective way to spread the disease.

Of the 169 human cases of bird flu worldwide, there is only 1 possible instance of a human catching the disease from wild birds. The overwhelming majority of cases have been contracted from domestic poultry. The current focus on migrating birds is a misplaced diversion of energy, effort and resources. Our efforts should be focused on improving bio-security - surveillance and testing of poultry, controlling movements and sale of poultry, poultry products and cage birds, and stepping up international efforts to control the illegal trade in poultry, poultry products and wild birds.

BirdLife International
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Wetlands International
GRAIN report on bird flu: 'Fowl Play'
BBC - Bird Flu in depth
Avian Demography Unit, University of Cape Town