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Vaccine won't stop avian flu, doctor says
SASKATOON, March 29: A veterinary pathologist at
the University of Saskatchewan says an avian
influenza vaccine for poultry is on its way, but
that won't stop the spread of the virus.
There has been a lot of concern since recent
discoveries of a strain of avian flu on farms near
Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Despite the fact that the virus found there was
deemed less harmful than the one associated with
the death of 23 people in Asia, local poultry
producers are worried domestic flocks are at risk.
That's what drew more than 50 people, including
several poultry producers, to hear the latest on
the avian flu at the University of Saskatchewan
Tuesday.
Avian pathologist Susantha Gomis says an influenza
vaccine could soon be available for chickens,
turkeys and other domestic fowl, but he doesn't
think a vaccine can stop the spread of the virus
by itself.
"We have shown that we can quickly eliminate the
problem by stamping out or culling," he said, "But
we might have to take the vaccination as part of
the culling procedure."
Some poultry producers also aren't convinced that
a vaccine is necessarily the best medicine for
their industry.
Nick Keet and Bonnie Morrison own a 45,000-bird
farm near Langham. They says that the way the
virus changes means that vaccines have a short
shelf life.
They say the best way to prevent their flocks from
catching the flu is to change their shoes and
clothes before entering and leaving the barn to
minimize the chances of spreading a virus from
their wild bird population to their chickens.
Dr.Habib-ur-Rehman
Senior Farm Manager
habib1@abt.wol.net.pk |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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