– This is simply scary, says ornithologist Rune Aae. He talks about dead and sick sea otters and other seabirds along the Norwegian coast. Only on Tuesday was there a report of the discovery of three dead ospreys on Ognasanden in Hå municipality, and one by Hafrsfjord in Sola municipality. On Wednesday, Mjøs found a total of 11 dead waterfowl at Orrestranden in Klepp municipality. In addition, sick birds have been found at Øygarden in Western Norway. This sick osprey was found at Øygarden in Western Norway on Monday. Photo: Julian Bell / Private Several hundred cases in the UK According to curator at Museum Stavanger, Alf Tore Mjøs, there is a high probability that it is bird flu. There is a lot of infection in the UK, especially in Shetland and the Orkney Islands. According to the website Birdguides, hundreds of dead and sick birds have been found on beaches in the UK during the spring. – This is easily transmitted to other species in the poultry industry, and I am concerned that this virus may eventually be transmitted between humans. There are several bird flu viruses that are the origin of pandemics that have affected people throughout history, says Mjøs. If the Norwegian Food Safety Authority does not inform The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has failed in its responsibility to inform the public about the situation, Mjøs believes. – I think that is strange, he says. Alf Tore Mjøs is curator at Museum Stavanger. He is very concerned about reports of dead and sick birds along the coast. Photo: Sindre Kirkaas Norman / news He thinks it is not inconceivable that we can have another outbreak in a poultry herd again, as was the case on Jæren in November last year and the year before. He points out that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority must get out to take samples of the birds. – Follows closely with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority states that they follow the situation closely, and says that the national emergency preparedness scheme will come into force again in the event of new outbreaks. They will also take samples of dead birds continuously – Input from Mjøs and others on how we can work together to prevent future outbreaks is very useful to us, and we take the views further in the work to preserve the good animal health in Norway, says section manager for animal health in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Anne Marie Jahr. Anne Marie Jahr in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Photo: The Norwegian Food Safety Authority She believes that bird flu infection in wild birds is most likely a new normal condition in this country. The Authority expects to find sporadic cases every single year in the future. – The risk of infection to humans is considered low by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but we are concerned about infection between animals. Everyone who has poultry must be aware of the infection in wild birds, protect their own birds against infection and monitor the birds’ state of health, says Jahr. Do not touch the birds The beaches on Jæren are popular hiking areas. Alf Tore Mjøs asks the audience to be careful if they come across dead birds. “People must not touch these birds,” he says. – Do we know for sure that the birds are infected with bird flu? – We do not know, but there is a massive eruption in Shetland and the Orkney Islands. And then we know that these birds cover the entire North Sea. There is every reason to assume that it is about bird flu, he believes. Several sick and dead ospreys are caused ashore along the coast. Ornithologists believe it is bird flu. Here at Regestranden in Sola municipality. Photo: Anita Rude / Private Very deadly In poultry, the most serious form of bird flu can lead to almost 100 percent mortality. In very rare cases, some types of viruses can be transmitted from birds to humans. On Facebook, Mjøs points out that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has closed down the national emergency preparedness group for bird flu, in the middle of the worst outbreaks of the virus ever. – The ringing center will no longer be contacted with information about outbreaks abroad that could potentially affect Norway. Now field tornitologists and bird researchers must be more vigilant than ever, writes Mjøs. Ornithologist is worried Ornithologist Aae himself was notified of a dead sole on Jeløya in Moss on Monday. It had probably died of emaciation, but Aae believes that tests should have been taken to rule out bird flu. – We constantly receive warnings about sick sea otters and other waterfowl, and it is always a little scary to come to such dead birds. But we must take this far more seriously than we have done, he says. Ornithologist Rune Aae believes there is every reason to take Mjøs’ concerns seriously. – This is simply scary, he says. Photo: Andrea Rådahl / news Mjøs is himself an ornithologist and a respected name in the bird community, and according to Aae there is every reason to take his concerns seriously. He says it is very difficult to see if a bird has died of bird flu. – If the bird is alive and infected with bird flu, it often has an extremely strange behavior. There are headaches, confusion and poor balance. But if it is dead, it is not easy to determine whether it has died from the virus or emaciation, he believes. This is bird flu Avian flu (avian flu) is caused by influenza virus A and is a contagious viral disease in birds, but can also be transmitted to other animal species. Different variants of bird flu lead to disease of varying severity. The more severe form is called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and a less severe form is called low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). In poultry, the severe form can lead to a mortality rate close to 100 percent. Some types of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus can in very rare cases be transmitted from bird to human. In poultry, HPAI usually results in rapid mortality in the poultry herd. In other cases, one may see respiratory symptoms or central nervous system symptoms. In infections with LPAI in poultry, one often sees no symptom, or mild respiratory symptoms. Some LPAI viruses can mutate and become HPAI viruses. The severe form of bird flu is prevalent throughout the world. In Europe, this is the case with both domestic and wild birds every quarter of a year. The number of it and country varies from year to year. Can reopen national emergency preparedness scheme He agrees with Mjøs that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority now has to reopen the national emergency preparedness group for bird flu. – I will be careful not to overdramatize, but if you get this into a dense population of geese, it does not have to go well, he says. After the eruption on Jæren, strict measures were implemented. But in May, the curfew and the hunting ban were lifted. This is what a fresh sole looks like. Photo: Knut-Sverre Horn According to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, an outbreak of bird flu will have major consequences for both professional poultry industry and those who have hens in the garden. Therefore, it is important that anyone who comes across obviously sick animals or several dead birds within a small area, warns the Norwegian Food Safety Authority so that they can assess the need for sampling.
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Believes bird flu has killed dead birds washed ashore – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
