TAILIEUCHUNG - The Role of the Intensive Poultry Production Industry in the Spread of Avian Influenza

In a recent Science paper, Olsen et al. (2006) state that ‘it is clear that the H5N1 problem originated from outbreaks in poultry, and that their geographical spread probably cannot be stopped without implementation of proper control measures in the global poultry industry’. It is also clear that many cases of wild bird infections seem to have occurred when the wild birds were in close proximity to captive birds (Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in Melville and Shortridge 2004, Chen et al. 2006). In fact, genetic sequencing of virus isolated from infected wild birds. | The Role of the Intensive Poultry Production Industry in the Spread of Avian Influenza A report by Compassion in World Farming February 2007 registered charity number 1095050 1 Executive summary Wild birds have taken much of the blame for the spread of H5N1 across the world but this report by Compassion in World Farming unveils evidence showing that the development of highly pathogenic strains of bird flu lies at the door of factory farming. The past two decades have seen a complete transformation in the poultry industry with a 300 increase in production across the world. This increase is by and large thanks to reliance on intensive farms and a transnational production system. Poultry production is now a global affair. An intensive poultry farm provides the optimum conditions for viral mutation and transmission - thousands of birds crowded together in a closed warm and dusty environment is highly conducive to the transmission of a contagious disease. Selecting generation after generation of birds for their faster growth rates and higher meat yields has left the birds immune systems less able to cope with infections and there is a high degree of genetic uniformity in the population making spread of the virus all the more easy. Further intensification of the industry has been suggested by some as the solution to avian flu on the rationale that keeping birds indoors will prevent contamination. However this relies on perfect fail-safe biosecurity - and such measures are near impossible to implement. Movement between farms of people materials and vehicles poses a threat and breaches in biosecurity are inevitable. Intensive farming is creating highly virulent avian flu strains. When we factor in the frequent flow of goods within and between countries the potential for disease spread is high. Compassion in World Farming believes that current and proposed H5N1 control measures are not based on the best available evidence and is calling for an enquiry into the

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