Sat, 20 Aug 2005

Germany acts to prevent spread of bird flu

EU ChickenSo what are they doing? Well, they've ordered poultry farmers in the Netherlands to bring their flocks indoors, to prevent any contact with migrating waterfowl that may be carrying the bug.

Which is entirely sensible, given the situation. But looked at from another angle, it's really a case of "damned if we do, damned if we don't". You see, cramming a bunch of normally free ranging birds into a barn is going to incite the development of other diseases. It just happens that way, naturally, to keep overcrowding under control. So while they might save their flocks from avian flu by doing this, and hopefully prevent a human pandemic, they're at a vastly increased risk of losing their flocks to another germ. And while denizens of the cities will be protected from a dreadful fate, the farmer will likely lose his ass financially.

A free range flock would be worth between $5 and $7 per bird here - I lost about $1500 when my 200 meat birds died this spring. And that ain't chicken feed - well, OK, that's exactly what it is - feed. Imagine how I'd feel if I'd lost 2000 birds ...

Highlighting German fears about the possible arrival of bird flu via the Urals, Berlin on Friday announced steps to impose emergency restrictions on poultry kept in the open.

(link) [Financial Times]

Update: On the same topic, within the crainium directed my attention to a fine resource for this emerging disaster: the avian flu blog.

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