Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu

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http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1724640&Language=en

  Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu  

Health & Environment    4/15/2007 12:26:00 PM 

Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu By KUNA Team (with photos) KUWAIT, April 15 (KUNA) -- Five hundred falcons, out of 3,000, have been tested already for bird flu, director of Kuwait falcons hospital Mishaal Al-Mutairi said Sunday.

In an interview with KUNA, Al-Mutairi said of the 500 falcons tested, only four have tested positive for bird flu. The four cases have been turned over to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).

Falcons are very susceptible to infection as they feed on fresh meat that could be infected, the director said.

The falcons have an incubation period of three days, he added. The cases can be identified clearly without lab tests. The first symptoms are the purging of any food, the second day the falcon's head and wings begin to twitch, and by the third day the bird is usually dead, Al-Mutairi said.

The Kuwait Falcon House was established in September 2005 after requests made by falcon owners in Kuwait who had to take their birds to neighboring countries for care.

The PAAAFR held a tender for interested companies. The winning bidder brought in equipment from the United States and Europe. The care of the Kuwaiti hospital is on par with that received in neighboring countries although it is fairly new.

The care center treats falcons for common ailments such as asthma and replace broken feathers and provides vaccinations, Al-Mutairi added.

The house also serves as a place to keep the falcons during the summer months. The bird center is closed and climate-controlled, he said.

During the peak season, the four months following September, the hospital receives around 300 falcons to care for per month.

The center also has facilities outfitted to perform surgical procedures for the birds, Al-Mutairi said.

The Falcon House also cares for other predator birds and other birds prized by birdkeepers.(end) kt.aa.go KUNA 151226 Apr 07NNNN  

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu Posted: April 15 2007 at 4:21am
	http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1724640&Language=en Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu Health & Environment 4/15/2007 12:26:00 PM Falcon Hospital testing birds for avian flu By KUNA Team (with photos) KUWAIT, April 15 (KUNA) -- Five hundred falcons, out of 3,000, have been tested already for bird flu, director of Kuwait falcons hospital Mishaal Al-Mutairi said Sunday. In an interview with KUNA, Al-Mutairi said of the 500 falcons tested, only four have tested positive for bird flu. The four cases have been turned over to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR). Falcons are very susceptible to infection as they feed on fresh meat that could be infected, the director said. The falcons have an incubation period of three days, he added. The cases can be identified clearly without lab tests. The first symptoms are the purging of any food, the second day the falcon's head and wings begin to twitch, and by the third day the bird is usually dead, Al-Mutairi said. The Kuwait Falcon House was established in September 2005 after requests made by falcon owners in Kuwait who had to take their birds to neighboring countries for care. The PAAAFR held a tender for interested companies. The winning bidder brought in equipment from the United States and Europe. The care of the Kuwaiti hospital is on par with that received in neighboring countries although it is fairly new. The care center treats falcons for common ailments such as asthma and replace broken feathers and provides vaccinations, Al-Mutairi added. The house also serves as a place to keep the falcons during the summer months. The bird center is closed and climate-controlled, he said. During the peak season, the four months following September, the hospital receives around 300 falcons to care for per month. The center also has facilities outfitted to perform surgical procedures for the birds, Al-Mutairi said. The Falcon House also cares for other predator birds and other birds prized by birdkeepers.(end) kt.aa.go KUNA 151226 Apr 07NNNN

kparcell Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Location: Florida Joined: June 03 2006 Status: Offline Points: 541	Post Options Post Reply Quote kparcell Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 15 2007 at 5:27am
	The test results imply the probability that several of these domestic birds at the hospital that have not been tested have BF (contracted, presumably, from infected prey). These birds are housed in humane conditions and there seems to be little concern of spread.