Towards an effective approach of controlling Avian Influenza
Smallholders in Europe demand vaccination of poultry to prevent a pandemic.
A plea to Dr. LEE Jong-wook, director general WHO and all other participants, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Organisation on Animal Health (OIE) and the World Bank, present at the meeting on avian influenza and human pandemic influenza from 7-9 November 2005 in Geneva, to accept vaccination of commercial poultry as an effective strategy to control the risks of AI and to protect public health.
In spite of all efforts up to now, H5N1 was not eradicated in Asia. So (illegal) transports and migratory birds will continue to be a risk in spreading this virus over the world in the coming years.The European Union (EU) has taken several measures to reduce the threat of AI.
One of these measures is the obligation to avoid contact between migratory birds, especially wild waterfowl, and poultry or other kept birds. However, we know that contact between migratory birds and other wild birds in parks, canals, and rivers cannot be avoided, just as we know that (illegal) transports cannot be ruled out. So this measure is not effective and has a ritual character.
The increase of outbreaks of AI (not only H5N1) in the last 10 years is directly related to the enormous growth of large commercial poultry holdings world wide. It is in these holdings that LPAI has the opportunity to mutate to HPAI.
We have to stop the spreading of AI, especially where the spreading to Africa would be a disaster due to lack of control measures and insufficient health care on this continent.
It is shameful that economic reasons impede the implementation of vaccination as a strategy to control AI. Products of vaccinated animals are safe. A ban on these products to fight trade wars is a crime.
Only vaccination of commercial poultry is the effective way to control the risk of spreading the virus and will contribute to the prevention of a influenza-pandemic today and in future.Although further elaboration of the vaccination strategy is necessary, we implore the support of the WHO-meeting in order to support our campaign for an effective and human approach.
Supporting vaccination of commercial poultry means:
1.protection of public health
2.breeding of commercial poultry in free range continues to be possible;
3.killing of millions of healthy birds in case of an outbreak can be prevented;
4.a perspective for countries with limited resources, where killing of healthy animals is not an economically realistic approach;
5.protection of rare breeds and species;
6.smallholders can keep their birds outside and with pleasure;
7.biodiversity will not be endangered.
Supporting organisations:
Aviornis International Nederland
Peter Kreijger, Chairman
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Nederlandse Belangenvereniging van Hobbydierhouders (Dutch Smallholder Association)
Paula Polman, Chairman
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SAVE Foundation
Staf Van den Bergh
Chairman SAVE Foundation
Rotselaarsebaan 45
B - 3220 HOLSBEEK
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SAVE Foundation
Paradiesstr. 13
D-78462 Konstanz / Germany
E-mail:
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SAVE Website: http://www.save-foundation.net
SLE (Foundation for Lifestock Heritage)
Jan Martens, Chairman
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SZH (preservation of Rare Breeds Foundation)
Berthold P.M. Janszen, Chairman
Geesje Kuit, secretary
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Hatchery The Weydegansch
breeders of the endangered American buff and Tufted buff Geese
Andrea Heesters
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