Immunisation against Influenza

[GregH]

I was just reading about the current H7 influenza outbreak in the Hunter and was wondering about what aviculturists can do to protect themselves from the zealotry of the DPI's extermination SOP of any captive bird within 5 km of the outbreak. Just pretend this included Mr Fidler's facility which hosts some the rarest, most genetically depauperate and expensive finch species in Australia what could he do to literally and legally protect his birds from this ritual sacrifice? I see the APVMA has had a H7 vaccine submitted for registration. Could this be a solution for those that hold the last of a species in trust?

[Finchy]

Only captive birds? Really? How idiotic. What about the 20 million free-ranging wild birds in the same area? Surely, surely not...but if yes, then a lawyer who can make this forehead-slappingly bleedin' obvious point in the way it needs to me made will be an excellent start.

Making it very clear to the specific individuals authorising or initiating these actions that it will be their necks on the block for doing something indefensible/that breaks other laws will be an important part of that.

What about Mrs Jones' African Grey that's been her companion and conversation buddy for 30 years? Surely not. Are they not also going to be species-specific?

And anyway, have they not already established that the bug is not a bad one?

[GregH]

Can birds be vaccinated against Avian Influenza?
The vaccine is not available off the shelves and its use will be considered in an outbreak situation as part of the control and eradication strategy. There are significant limitations associated with vaccination against this disease. The vaccine is capable of protection against disease but not against the birds becoming infected and shedding the virus. The vaccine will reduce the level of shedding but this reduction may not be sufficient to prevent further spread from the vaccinated birds. It may lead also to problems identifying birds that carry the virus but do not show clinical signs because of the protection by the vaccine. In outbreak situations vaccination could be considered in order to slow down the spread or to protect rare valuable birds in zoos and parks.

from NSW DPI

Well the DPI site gives some of the answers but it doesn't tell the full story. During the last outbreak in 1997 they DID kill Mrs jones pet budgie that had kept inside for the last 5 years and had never had any contact with other birds or even people that were in contact with other birds. Extermination within a 5Km radius was the SOP then and I presume it still is. The fact that they mention that valuable birds could be protected may mean they are open to negotiation but as a former employee I seriously doubt it! When you look into documents circulating out of the Macarthur Institute you see Dr Kirkland's pronouncement "In Australia it is the policy of Animal Health Committee and SCAHLS that the cultivation of or the inoculation of birds or animals with viruses from the H5 or H7 subtypes, or other isolates that may be classified as virulent, will be carried out only at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL)." This seems to go against the recommendations of the AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY EMERGENCY PLAN which calls for vaccination in the case of LPAI (Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza i.e. H5 & H7 strains), however when HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) is confirmed on a premises on which rare poultry, cage or zoo birds are present, the primary objective is eradication of the virus by stamping out the outbreak.

Keeping all your eggs in one basket carries a risk but when you'r down to your last few paris of a species decentralisation is not an option so the question remains how can you protect these flocks from destruction if their only risk is to be within a declared zone but they have very little chance of contracting the disease?