HSUS Investigation of Live Bird Markets Finds Conditions That Could Pose Public Health Threat

[Guest guest]

Investigation of Live Bird Markets Finds Conditions That Could Pose

Public Health Threat

 

The HSUS Finds Dirty Markets Conducive to Transmitting Avian Flu

 

(May 24, 2007) - An undercover investigation of live bird markets in

the United States has found conditions that could pose a public

health threat, The Humane Society of the United States announced

today. The HSUS is releasing its findings in its report, " Human

Health Implications of U.S. Live Bird Markets in the Spread of Avian

Influenza. "

 

The HSUS report is a science-based investigation of live bird markets

in the Unites States. At live bird markets, birds, including ducks

and chickens, are offered to the public for sale. Some animals are

kept in stacked cages or sheds. These cramped and dirty conditions

are ideal for transmitting avian influenza.

 

Avian flu, or bird flu, is a normally benign disease carried by many

waterfowl and transmitted via the infected birds' droppings. These

benign waterfowl viruses, once transferred to animals, workers or

equipment at the live markets may find their way into industrial

poultry populations where they may mutate into highly pathogenic

forms that may then pose a human risk.

 

" Efforts to purge bird flu viruses from live poultry markets in the

United States over the years have failed, despite periodic

quarantine, depopulation, cleaning and disinfection, " said Michael

Greger, M.D., director of public health and animal agriculture at The

Humane Society of the United States and author of the book Bird Flu:

A Virus of Our Own Hatching. " Current state regulations were created

at a time when we thought that these viruses only made birds sick.

Now that we know they can mutate into viruses capable of directly

killing people, we need to just shut these viral swap meets down. "

 

Live bird markets are found in many cities, including Houston, Los

Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia and San

Francisco. In just the northeastern United States, the U.S.

Department of Agriculture estimates that 20 million birds pass

through the area's 150 known birds markets. Bird flu viruses have

been found in the United States every year since the mid-1960s.

 

According to the HSUS report, " Unlike many Asian countries, which

have responded to the risks associated with live bird markets by

shutting them down, and Hong Kong, which now segregates waterfowl

from terrestrial species, U.S. live bird markets are still in

operation, and separation of aquatic and land-based birds is not

mandated. "

 

However, some lawmakers are taking note of the threat. In New York,

Assemblyperson Barbara Clark has introduced legislation that would

enact a year-long moratorium on the licensing of new live bird

markets in New York City while a task force studies the associated

public health and safety risks.

 

" This is a first step towards preventing the future emergence of

viruses with pandemic potential, " continued Dr. Greger. " The U.S.

government should see that the risk of an influenza pandemic is a

very real possibility and take the necessary steps to protect its

citizens. "

 

MEDIA CONTACT: To view The HSUS video footage or for a copy of the

report, contact Belinda Mager,

<bmagerbmager,

646-469-4987

 

Dr. Greger's book on avian flu may be read online, visit

<http://birdflubook.org/>birdflubook.org.

 

 

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest

animal protection organization - backed by 10 million Americans, or

one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been

fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy,

education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting

cruelty -- On the web at <http://humanesociety.org/>humanesociety.org.

 

The Humane Society of the United States

2100 L Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20037

<http://www.humanesociety.org/>humanesociety.org

Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty

 

 

 

Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join our

online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to

<http://www.hsus.org/join>www.hsus.org/join .

 

--