Juan Lubroth Bird Quotations

We don't have a spread of the virus, what we have is the introduction of the virus into countries of the European Union. The difference is that it's human activities, through commerce, through the market place, through the way we raise our poultry that we get disease spread. The fact that in Europe, in many countries, it's been picked up in migratory birds, is very, very relevant, it means that the European authorities -- Italy, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Austria -- are monitoring, doing active surveillance in the wild bird population.

People need to be informed about the importance of basic hygiene notably washing hands after touching poultry and disinfecting boots or shoes before entering or leaving a poultry farm. They should also be aware of suitable farming practices such as ensuring that poultry are roofed-in to avoid any contact with wild birds and not mixing chickens with other species, such as ducks.

We're been looking for it in wild birds for the last two months and it is surprising that we've come up with zero.

It's very easy to blame bird migration, because then no one's responsible. Migrating birds may introduce the virus into an area, but it is human activity that spreads it.

I think that wild birds may introduce the virus but it is through man and man's marketing systems (the poultry trade) that the disease spreads. It is also possible that poultry can transmit the virus to wildlife when they share the same ecosystem.

It is important to underline that there is no evidence that the H5NI virus is present in poultry in Italy. At the moment, the disease remains confined to individual cases in wild birds only.

It is important to underline that there is no evidence that the H5N1 virus is present in poultry in Italy. At the moment, the disease remains confined to individual cases in wild birds only. The current situation in Italy does not provide consumers with any cause to avoid eating poultry products.