Avian Influenza

Since October last year, the H5N1 strain has caused nearly 3,000 outbreaks in poultry in dozens of countries. More than 77 million birds have been culled to curb the spread of the virus, which almost always causes severe disease or death in chickens. Another 400,000 non-poultry birds, such as wild birds, have also died in 2,600 outbreaks — twice the number reported during the last major wave, in 2016–17 (source Nature May 2022)

The Virus Origin

A highly pathogenic H5N1 strain emerged in commercial geese in Asia in around 1996, and spread in poultry throughout Europe and Africa in the early 2000s. By 2005, the strain was causing mass deaths in wild birds, first in East Asia and then in Europe. Since then, the strain has repeatedly infected wild birds in many parts of the world, says Andy Ramey, a research wildlife geneticist at the US Geological Survey Alaska Science Center in Anchorage. Through repeated spillovers, Ramey says, H5N1 seems to have become more adapted to wild birds. It’s “now become an emerging wildlife disease”, he says.

In 2014, a new highly pathogenic H5 lineage — called 2.3.4.4 — emerged and started infecting wild birds without always killing them. This created opportunities for the virus to spread to North America for the first time. The lineage has since dominated outbreaks around the world, including the current ones.

The Influence of Industry

It comes as no surprise to me that the immediate action taken in light of the ever increasing numbers of 'confirmed cases' of avian influenza is to cull entire flocks. Vast commercial populations have been killed in the last year to curb the spread and here we are again, cases are on the up, the UK has been declared a prevention zone already (17/10/22) with Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex having additional mandatory housing orders placed!

I can't help but feel that the inordinate stresses placed upon poultry in commercial environments leaves them vulnerable to disease. You will have seen images of the 'frankenhen' meat birds, reared so rapidly to gain weight before slaughter at 43 days old....43!!!! Ground dwelling in faeces and urine soaked bedding because their legs can no longer hold their disproportionate body mass or the intensive 'free range laying flocks' where hens never see the light of day because they cannot get to the small pop holes and even if they do they find a barren space, soiled and devoid of any green or interest.

These places are designed to produce meat and eggs, they are not designed to 'care' for the hens, despite what the labels may say! There is enough footage out there of the unsanitary conditions in which these birds live their shortened lives in, for you to see the reality!!

The restriction of nutrition, of fresh air, of space, of escape, of the ability to exhibit natural behaviours leads to elevated stress levels, to poor condition, to dis-ease.

The very nature of a building within which are housed thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of birds, emitting heat, moisture and excrement surely gives rise to an environment rich in opportunity for pathogens to spread, mutate and proliferate??

And in true human style the response is to start bolting the proverbial stable door!!

The ensuing panic is to protect the INDUSTRY, the SUPPLY not to prevent the deaths of millions of birds, farmed or wild. It seems the emphasis is on finding a way to ensure the industry is not disrupted, to ensure it can carry on yielding at the levels required by the hungry demanding masses. So the hens become more confined, close them in, keep the virus out, simple!

So my message to you, if you have read this far, firstly thank you, is this, please ask yourself whether you feel this is the right approach, or do you think we need to start pushing the industry agenda in a different direction? And if so how can you play your part?

The easiest way is to stop financing the industry!! By simply choosing plant based and vegan alternatives that do not contain eggs!! The shelves are filling up with a variety of offerings now, take a look, try some, be surprised!!

Another option, which may suit more people, could be reduce the amount of eggs and egg products they buy and use. Have you ever actually added up how many eggs you consume a week? whether as whole eggs or as eggs in recipes you make and also as ingredients in shop bought products like mayonnaise, quiches, cakes, pasta to name a few!!

Avian Influenza is currently big news, and rightly so, the consequences of it are far reaching. However, there is a much bigger picture here, it is not a stand-alone occurrence, it is the result of much human influence and activity, it is another consequence of our greed, bottom line in my opinion. 

If you have hens then you need to follow government guidelines, a list of required biosecurity is shown below! Don't risk your birds, take precautions to keep your flock protected and keep on top of your biosecurity!!

Have a read of this which is a list of products I trust to protect the Clan and me!!

Take Care xx