Taiwan Seizes H5N1 Infected Birds

 

Photo Credit USDA

 

# 3437

 

Despite only rarely being acknowledged as a problem by their government, there is compelling evidence to suggest that the H5N1 virus is firmly entrenched in many parts of China.

 

There are, of course, the 43 human cases that have been officially reported over the past decade, and from time to time the Chinese media mentions a culling operation taking place at an infected farm. 

 

There are unofficial reports and rumors, often carried by the dissident press, but more tangibly, we’ve seen a steady trickle of H5N1 infected birds – most coming from the mainland – detected each year in Hong Kong.

 

Perhaps even more ominously, we’ve seen the recurring phenomenon of infected poultry carcasses - apparently dumped into the upper Pearl River by farmers - washing up on the beaches of Hong Kong (see The Winter Of Our Disbelief).

 

Today, we’ve a story that bolsters concerns that the H5N1 virus remains active in China, and illustrates just how easily dangerous pathogens can move from one region to the next. 

 

Authorities in Taiwan have seized, and destroyed, 38 birds being smuggled into their country from China that were infected with the H5N1 virus.

 

Taiwan finds H5N1 virus in birds smuggled from China

Posted: 17 July 2012

TAIPEI: Dozens of pet birds smuggled from southern China into Taiwan tested positive for the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus and were destroyed, Taiwanese authorities said Tuesday.

(Continue . . . )

 

The story indicates the smuggler was detained at Taoyuan international airport in Taiwan after arriving from Macau with his winged contraband. Nine people exposed to these birds were observed for 10 days, and luckily none showed signs of infection.

 

This is not the first time that H5N1 infected birds have been smuggled into Taiwan.  From Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) we get this account of an incident from 2005.

 

H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus Detected in Smuggled Birds from China

In midnight of October 14, 2005, Taiwan Coast Guard Administration confiscated 1,037 birds from a freighter of which the ship staff smuggled the birds from China into Taichung. All the birds were humanely sacrificed on next day and immediately sent to the Animal Health Research Institute for routine diagnosis to find out if they were infected with avian influenza and other concerned diseases. The test results confirmed that those smuggled birds were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus.

 

 

Porous borders, security guards that will look the other way for the right price, and a lucrative market make bird smuggling a popular gambit in many parts of the world, and it can involve anything from expensive exotics to everyday poultry.

 

Some earlier blogs on bird smuggling involving the H5N1 virus include:

 

Update On West Bank Bird Flu Outbreak

S. Korea: Police To Step Up Fight Against Poultry Smugglers

West Bengal: Thousands Of Chickens Smuggled Out

Vietnam Finds Bird Flu In Smuggled Chinese Chickens

Vietnam Detects `New Strain' Of H5N1

Hong Kong Investigating Source Of Bird Flu Virus

 

 

To be fair, China isn’t the only source of H5N1 infected birds, and H5N1 isn’t the only dangerous pathogen being smuggled across borders around the world.

 

The trade in exotic pets, and `bush meat’, provides an easy avenue for the cross-border introduction of zoonotic diseases around the globe.

 

As an example, we saw a rare outbreak of Monkeypox in the United States in 2003, when an animal distributor imported hundreds of small animals from Ghana, which in turn infected prairie dogs that were subsequently sold to the public (see MMWR Update On Monkeypox 2003)

(Photo Credit CDC PHIL)

 

This outbreak infected at least 71 people across 6 states. No vaccine is available for Monkeypox, but the smallpox vaccination is said to reduce the risk of infection.

 

Last year  British papers were filled with reports of `bushmeat’ being sold in the UK. A couple of links to articles include:

 

Meat from chimpanzees 'is on sale in Britain' in lucrative black market

Chimp meat discovered on menu in Midlands restaurants

 

The slaughtering of these intelligent (and often endangered) primates for food (but mostly profit) is horrific its own right, but it also has the very real potential of introducing zoonotic pathogens to humans.

 

 

In 2005, the CDC’s EID Journal carried a perspective article on the dangers of bushmeat hunting by Nathan D. Wolfe, Peter Daszak, A. Marm Kilpatrick, and Donald S. Burke.

 

It describes how it may take multiple introductions of a zoonotic pathogen to man – over a period of years or decades – before it adapts well enough to human physiology to support human-to-human transmission.

 

 

Bushmeat Hunting, Deforestation, and Prediction of Zoonotic Disease

 

Beyond H5N1, SARS and monkeypox, a few other viruses of concern include Hendra, Nipah, Ebola, other avian influenzas, hemorrhagic fevers, many variations of SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus), and of course . . .  Virus X.

 

The one we don’t know about.  Yet.

 

On the frontlines attempting to interdict the next emerging pathogen is the above mentioned Dr. Nathan Wolfe, whom I’ve written about several times before, including:

 

Nathan Wolfe And The Doomsday Strain

Nathan Wolfe: Virus Hunter

 

You can watch a fascinating TED Talk by Dr. Wolfe HERE on preventing the `next pandemic’.

(Click Image to view video)

 

While it may take multiple introductions over many years before a zoonotic disease can get a foothold in a new region, the public health risks posed by these smuggling operations are all too real.

A sobering thought, considering the number of illicit items that manage to get across international borders undetected.

SciAm: Excerpts From Nathan Wolfe’s `Viral Storm’

 

 

# 5891

 

Nathan Wolfe is a field virologist . . . a virus hunter . . . who hopes his work, and those of his colleagues, will reveal the identity of the next deadly virus to jump species from animals to humans.

 

Dr. Wolfe founded and directs the  Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (GVFI), a collaboration of more than 100 scientists worldwide who work to serve as a pandemic early warning system.

 

I’ve called Wolfe the `Indiana Jones of Virology’ because he spends about half of each year tramping around the jungles of Africa looking for next doomsday virus (see Nathan Wolfe And The Doomsday Strain).

 

In 2008 the New York Times ran a major story (see Deep In The Rain Forest, Stalking the Next Pandemic) on Dr. Wolfe’s work, and you can learn more from his inspiring 2009 TED TALK  Video Link.

 

 

 

Today Scientific American has excerpts from Dr. Wolfe’s new book, The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age, published on October 11th.  Follow the link to read:

 

How an Interconnected Planet Is Fueling the Brewing Viral Storm

In his new book, award-winning biologist and author Nathan Wolfe​ examines the origins and spread of viruses around the globe

For more on the book, and an audio interview with Dr. Wolfe, visit:

 

The Viral Storm

The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age

WSJ: Nathan Wolfe & Viral Chatter

 

 

 

# 5886

 

A decade ago `wild flavor’ restaurants were the rage in mainland China, most particularly in Guangzhou Province. Diners there could indulge in exotic dishes – often slaughtered and cooked tableside - including dog, cat, civit, muskrat, ferret, monkey, along with a variety of snakes, reptiles, and birds.

 

What are commonly referred to as `bushmeat’.

 

It was from this practice that the SARS is believed to have emerged, when kitchen workers apparently became infected while preparing wild animals for consumption.

 

Before SARS burned out, more than 8,000 people were infected around the globe and at least 800 died.

 

In the aftermath of the SARS epidemic – at least for a time – Chinese authorities cracked down on many of these `wild flavor’ establishments, although some reportedly still flourish in parts of China.

 

In Africa consumption of bushmeat is common, and often ends up illegally imported into the United States, Canada, and the European Union.

 

In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the number of outbreaks of Monkeypox in central and western Africa, and even a rare outbreak in the United States in 2003 when an animal distributor imported hundreds of small animals from Ghana, which in turn infected prairie dogs that were subsequently sold to the public (see MMWR Update On Monkeypox 2003)

 

(Photo Credit CDC PHIL)

 

While dubbed `monkeypox’, this less lethal cousin to smallpox is probably more commonly found in rodents than in monkeys.  Both of which are often targets of bushmeat hunters.

 

No vaccine is available for monkeypox, but the smallpox vaccination is said to reduce the risk of infection.

 

Earlier this year the British papers were filled with reports of `bushmeat’ being sold in the UK. A couple of links to articles include:

 

Meat from chimpanzees 'is on sale in Britain' in lucrative black market

Chimp meat discovered on menu in Midlands restaurants

 

The slaughtering of these intelligent (and often endangered) primates for food (but mostly profit) is horrific its own right, but it also has the very real potential of introducing zoonotic pathogens to humans.

 

To give some perspective on the size of the problem, in 2010 a study published in the journal Conservation Letters  looked at the amount of smuggled bushmeat that was coming into Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport over a 17 day period on flights from west and central Africa.

 

An Associated Press article provides the details (link & excerpt below):

 

Tons of Bushmeat Smuggled Into Paris, Study Finds

By MARIA CHENG and CHRISTINA OKELLO Associated Press Writers

PARIS June 17, 2010 (AP)

(EXCERPT)

Experts found 11 types of bushmeat including monkeys, large rats, crocodiles, small antelopes and pangolins, or anteaters. Almost 40 percent were listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

 

In 2005, the CDC’s EID Journal carried a perspective article on the dangers of bushmeat hunting by Nathan D. Wolfe, Peter Daszak, A. Marm Kilpatrick, and Donald S. Burke . 

 

It describes how it may take multiple introductions of a zoonotic pathogen to man – over a period of years or decades – before it adapts well enough to human physiology to support human-to-human transmission.

 

Bushmeat Hunting, Deforestation, and Prediction of Zoonotic Disease

 

 

Beyond SARS and monkeypox, a few other viruses of concern include Hendra, Nipah, Ebola, avian influenzas, hemorrhagic fevers, many variations of SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus), and of course . . .  Virus X.

 

The one we don’t know about.  Yet.

 

On the frontlines attempting to interdict the next emerging pathogen is Dr. Nathan Wolfe, whom I’ve written about several times before, including:

 

Nathan Wolfe And The Doomsday Strain

Nathan Wolfe: Virus Hunter

 

You can also view an absolutely fascinating TED Talk by Dr. Wolfe.

Video Link

 

 

Dr. Wolf has an essay in today’s WSJ that is adapted from his new book ("The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age."), that looks at ways that monitoring `viral chatter’ could tip us off to the next emerging pandemic.

 

Where Will The Next Pandemic Come From?

To intercept killer viruses, we need to monitor 'viral chatter' in the wilds of Central Africa and Southeast Asia

 

 

His vision of a `viral war room’, one that would monitor viral chatter and electronic medical records around the globe, does not exist yet.  But there are some volunteer organizations out there working on a much smaller scale -such as ProMed Mail, FluTrackers, the Flu Wiki, and the rest of flublogia  – that are attempting to find early indicators of viral trouble from press reports around the world. 

 

For more on how the dedicated volunteer newshounds of the Internet work to track down these stories, I would invite you to read:

 

Newshounds: They Cover The Pandemic Front.

Bushmeat,`Wild Flavor’ & EIDs

 

 

 

# 5344

 

 

During the opening years of the first decade of the 21st century, `wild flavor’ restaurants flourished in many parts of China, but most particularly in Guangzhou Province.

 

There you could partake in all sorts of exotic dishes – often slaughtered and cooked in front of you - including dog, cat, civit, muskrat, ferret, monkey, along with a variety of snakes, reptiles, and birds.

 

What are commonly referred to as `bushmeat’.

 

For a horrific description of the conditions in these restaurants, I would direct you to an essay by Karl Taro Greenfeld called Wild Flavor which appeared in the Paris Review in 2005.

 

Greenfeld, you may recall, is the author of The China Syndrome: The True Story of the 21st Century's First Great Epidemic.  Perhaps the most authoritative (and absolutely riveting) account of the SARS outbreak of 2003, and how it was directly linked to the practice of consuming bushmeat in China.

 

In the wake of the SARS outbreak China – at least for a time – cracked down on many of these `wild flavor’ establishments, although they reportedly still flourish in some parts of China.

 

Yesterday, the British papers were filled with stories on the importation and sale of illegal bushmeat in the UK, including reports of chimpanzee meat being sold in some restaurants. 

 

A couple of links to articles include:

 

Meat from chimpanzees 'is on sale in Britain' in lucrative black market

Chimp meat discovered on menu in Midlands restaurants

 

 

The slaughtering of these intelligent (and often endangered) primates for food (but mostly profit) is sufficiently disturbing in its own right, but the dangers inherent in such practices are hardly trivial.

 

The killing, butchering, and even consumption of bushmeat have the very real potential of introducing zoonotic pathogens to humans. We saw that happen in 2003 with SARS, and it believed that this was how HIV was introduced into the human population as well.

 

While most people think of bushmeat hunting as something that a few indigenous tribes in Africa might do to feed their protein-starved communities, the reality is that hundreds of tons of bushmeat are butchered and exported (usually smuggled) to Europe, Asia, and North America every year.

 

In the summer of 2010 headlines were made when a study – published in the journal Conservation Letters  looked at the amount of smuggled bushmeat that was coming into Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport over a 17 day period on flights from west and central Africa.

 

An Associated Press article provides the details (link & excerpt below)

 

 

Tons of Bushmeat Smuggled Into Paris, Study Finds

 

By MARIA CHENG and CHRISTINA OKELLO Associated Press Writers

PARIS June 17, 2010 (AP)

(EXCERPT)

Experts found 11 types of bushmeat including monkeys, large rats, crocodiles, small antelopes and pangolins, or anteaters. Almost 40 percent were listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

 

Based on what officials seized — 414 pounds (188 kilos) of bushmeat — the researchers estimated that about five tons of bushmeat gets into Paris each week.

(Continue . . . )

 

In 2005, the CDC’s EID Journal carried a perspective article on the dangers of bushmeat hunting by Nathan D. Wolfe, Peter Daszak, A. Marm Kilpatrick, and Donald S. Burke.

 

Bushmeat Hunting, Deforestation, and Prediction of Zoonotic Disease

 

It’s an interesting article, and it describes how it may take numerous transmissions of a zoonotic pathogen to man – over a period of years or decades – before it adapts well enough to human physiology to support human-to-human transmission.

 

Bushmeat hunting is a common intersection between man and reservoirs of zoonotic viruses, with a strong potential for an infection to occur.

 

One of those zoonotic diseases of concern is monkeypox.

 

In recent years we’ve seen an increase in the number of outbreaks of in central and western Africa, and even a rare outbreak in the United States in 2003 when an animal distributor imported hundreds of small animals from Ghana, which in turn infected prairie dogs that were subsequently sold to the public (see MMWR  Update On Monkeypox 2003)

 

(Photo Credit CDC PHIL)

 

While dubbed `monkeypox’, this less lethal cousin to smallpox is probably more commonly found in rodents than in monkeys.  Both of which are often targets of bushmeat hunters.

 

No vaccine is available for monkeypox, but the smallpox vaccination is said to reduce the risk of infection.

 

Just a few of the other viruses of concern include Hendra, Nipah, Ebola, many variations of SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus), and of course . . .  Virus X.   

 

The one we don’t know about.  Yet.

 

For more on this we turn again to Nathan Wolfe, `The Virus Hunter’  and founder of Global Viral Forecasting Initiative (GVFI), who spends half his time in the wilds of Cameroon testing bushmeat – and hunters – looking for virus X.

 

I’ve written about Nathan Wolf several times over the years, including:

 

Nathan Wolfe And The Doomsday Strain

Nathan Wolfe: Virus Hunter

 

I can also highly recommend an absolutely fascinating TED Talk by Dr. Wolfe.

 

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design.  Each year they hold a 4 day long event at Long Beach, California where 50 people are urged to give the 18-minute talk of their lives.

 

And believe me, this is one talk you don’t want to miss.

Video Link

 

While many people are understandably outraged or disgusted by the notion of bushmeat hunting, for virologists, the impact is much broader. 

 

Three quarters of human diseases originated in other animal species, and there are undoubtedly many more out there, waiting for an opportunity to jump to a new host.

 

Sadly, the role of `wild flavor’ cuisine in SARS epidemic in China and the introduction of HIV to humans via the hunting of bushmeat in Africa, it would appear, are lessons we have yet to fully embrace.

Nathan Wolfe And The Doomsday Strain

 

 

# 5160

 

 

Yes, I know the above sounds like the title to a Tom Swift adventure, but don’t let that deter you. As Crof so aptly put it in his blog overnight, the article below (penned by Michael Specter) is The must-read of the month.

 

Go now and read this PDF of a feature that appears in this week’s New Yorker Magazine, called The Doomsday Strain.

 

I’ll wait.

 

I’ve been an unabashed fan of Doctor Nathan Wolfe for quite some time, and have featured him in this blog on more than one occasion.

 

Wolfe is pretty much the Indiana Jones of Virology, spending about half of his time in the jungles of Africa looking for the next doomsday virus.

 

I wrote about Dr. Wolfe  last year (see Nathan Wolfe: Virus Hunter), and also featured an absolutely fascinating TED Talk by Dr. Wolfe.

 

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design.  Each year they hold a 4 day long event at Long Beach, California where 50 people are urged to give the 18-minute talk of their lives.

 

And believe me, this is one talk you don’t want to miss.

About this talk

Virus hunter Nathan Wolfe is outwitting the next pandemic by staying two steps ahead: discovering new, deadly viruses where they first emerge -- passing from animals to humans among poor subsistence hunters in Africa -- before they claim millions of lives

Full bio and more links

(Click Image to view video)