Can anything be done to stop the spread of avian influenza in wild birds?
The World Health Organisation fully agrees with the United Nations Food and Agriculture and the Office International des Epizooties (world organisation for animal health) that control of avian influenza infection in wild bird populations is not feasible and should not be attempted. Wild waterfowl have been known for some time to be the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses. Migratory birds can carry these viruses, in their low-pathogenic form, over long distances but do not usually develop signs of illness and rarely die of the disease. The instances in which highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have been detected in migratory birds are rare and the role of these birds in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza remains poorly understood.
