On bird flu

On bird flu

Indonesia has a major opportunity in the face of the bird flu
scare to do something about the enormous trade here in wild
birds. While it seems extremely unlikely that bird markets such
as Barito and Pramuka in Jakarta might be immediately closed
down, there are immediate initiatives that the government could
take.

These include an education campaign to demonstrate to the
public that wild birds pose no serious threat of transmitting
H5N1 to humans. The scientific evidence is to the effect that
there is only a very superficial connection between migration
patterns of wild birds and outbreaks of the virus, according to
Birdlife Indonesia.

Vietnam recently embarked on a cull of such birds as herons
and egrets but has abandoned the program. However, the cities of
Da Nang and Hue are still culling sparrows and pigeons in the
mistaken belief that these pose a danger. Indonesia must not get
involved likewise, not least because such a campaign would
generate an attack on birds in general.

DAVID JARDINE, Carlisle, UK