Tracking down avian influenza
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a viral disease that originated in wild duck and domestic poultry. Several types of this virus are known to exist. Some are very powerful and can kill birds within days. Others are far less harmless and can stay inside their hosts for years.
A devastating avian influenza epidemic (the H5N1 virus) plagues South East Asia since 2003, playing havoc in large poultry farms. In August 2006 it was confirmed in southern Russia, near the Kazach border. The virus then made its appearance in Turkey and later in Rumania and Croatia. This sudden spread of avian influenza towards Europe has alarmed virologists and ornithologists. In Belgian the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) (*) is monitoring the situation.
The first objective of the FASFC was to assess the risk of the disease reaching Belgium. To this end, the agency called in the help of our ornithologists. As a matter of fact, our Institute has been organizing the ringing of wild birds since 1927 as a unique means of studying bird migration. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers are helping us to ring 700,000 birds a year. 200,000 recaptures are filed, each data illustrating one bird's movement.
At the request of the FASFC, we analysed and mapped the available data for those species that are susceptible to be a major danger (according to virus susceptibility and migratory movements). This lead to the conclusion that some birds hibernating in Belgium or migrating through this country, are originating from areas hit by this epidemic. But can these birds transport the disease for thousands of miles? The answer is uncertain. Virologists of the Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR) (*) think that the disease affects birds so fast that they probably won't be able to cross a complete continent. But since it is not possible to ascertain this, the authorities choose to play it safe.
The FASFC set up a network, amongst others things, to check wether the virus is present in Belgium. Our museum can contribute its expertise here. It immediately began to ring more waterfowl (swans, geese, duck, waders and gulls), and to collect, as much as possible, a sample of their faeces to be examined by virologists. This operation takes only a few minutes after which the (ringed) bird is set free. Contrary to other countries, Belgium preferred not to shoot thousands of birds for sampling, but instead it called upon our expertise in the study of wild birds. The programme runs until March 2006 and aims at 1500 samples.
This sampling programme is being conducted in close collaboration with the VAR and with the support of the authorities of the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon regions. Indeed, it is the regions that grant the permits to ring wild birds. They have also allowed capture and ringing equipments in some of their nature reserves.
For more information about avian influenza and the precautions to be taken, check www.health.gov.be (*) and www.afsca.be (*, website only in Dutch and French).
(*): This website will be opened in a new window.
