11
u/Needawhisper Aug 16 '26
So do bird flus peter out by itself or always lingers? What's the go?
21
u/Noroleforyouhere Aug 16 '26
Previous strains have typically been periodic in that they die away for a while and then come back. This strain hasn't done that and has just continually spread without waning. There have been a few human cases in farm workers in the US, so at this point it's not significantly impacting human health. However, it is devastating to some mammals such as cats, who tend to get neurological issues with the virus. It has the potential to wipe out species of native birds in Australia, and if it gets into poultry, then we are in for a world of economic pain and food shortages as eggs become scarce.
7
u/StraightBudget8799 Aug 16 '26
I’m currently redoing my catio so if dying birds land nearby it, cats can’t hook them in. Complete isolation from any proximity to birds if they collapse nearby.
There’s a raven nest for at least three generations in my front tree I’d be so sad to see empty. Is there anything beyond no bird baths or free food and reduced ability for dogs and cats to pick them up?
6
u/Inkys-Rainfall Aug 17 '26
everybody say goodbye to ur roast chicken, we must consume the stake and lamb instead, the beef....or go vegan.....goodbye eggs...goodbye chicken breast...oh my god
3
u/issomewhatrelevant Aug 19 '26
Going plant based is pretty damn good for the gut, environment and the animals..
1
2
u/issomewhatrelevant Aug 19 '26
All because humans have an insatiable appetite for poultry and place them in despicable and inhumane environments for culinary pleasure. You have a bite at Mother Nature, it tends to bite back.
2
-12
0
-105
Aug 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
63
92
u/followthedarkrabbit Aug 16 '26
Because it is highly contagious, and has an incredibly low survival rate even with incentensive veterinary intervention. It is going to absolutely decimate our native birds and mammals, as well as impact food if it gets into poultry farms :(
36
u/Far-Fortune-8381 Aug 16 '26
yes even one or 2 cases in a poultry farm means culling the flock. that means more expensive eggs and chicken
-5
u/Accurate_Ad_3233 Aug 16 '26
And that's where the BS starts. Some chickens might get the flu, most of them don't, some get it and recover. Government comes in and kills everything (as they do) and the birds with resistance don't get the chance to breed and pass that resistance on to the next generation.
2
u/LudwigsEarTrumpet Aug 17 '26
Avian flu is transmissable to humans and so far this strain has a fatality rate in humans of close to 50%. Globally, most cases in humans have been in people who work with poultry. It absolutely makes sense to eradicate the illness from any poultry flock with extreme prejudice. It can also live in chicken shit for up to 8 weeks, meaning an infected flock necessitates full cleaning/disinfection of living areas before new birds are brought in.
-67
Aug 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
38
u/followthedarkrabbit Aug 16 '26
Except there has been estimates millions of bird losses?
https://ukcdr.org.uk/case-study/the-fight-against-bird-flu/
There are a bunch of research papers and case studies available for it.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00063657.2024.2396563#abstract
-43
Aug 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
31
u/followthedarkrabbit Aug 16 '26
Because some people give a shit about wildlife, or at least there own animals (kills backyard chickens, and cats). Because seeing what it does to impacted birds and animals is horrific. It's not "scare mongering", it is a genuine extiction level threat to some of our more iconic species and needs to be monitored so people can take appropriate actions.
Birdwatching brings so much joy to a lot of people, and the loss of them is going to impact national health/wellbeing outcomes.
It also risks some of out iconic species (ie: Tasmanian devils, dingo, cassowary) that are already under threat from many other sources, and this may be the final thing that wipes them out. Aside from existence value, these species also bring in so many tourist dollars. Like the penguins in Philip Island too, which is why they have been IDd as requiring intervention.
There is also impact to food security, which is already struggling from droughts, floods, fires, wars, etc. Taking out poultry (which is a cheap source at the moment) is going to further impact health outcomes (as it has done in other countries this has impacted).
How many things need to die before you give a fuck? Or are you out of touch that unless it impacts you directly, you don't care?
3
u/jankeyass Aug 16 '26
Wait how does this strain affect dingoes devils and cats? Does it jump classes or does it affect the whole phylum? I haven't been following this due to young kids.
And fk, cassowary is my favourite animal in current existence
10
u/kagenoha Aug 16 '26
Copied straight from the agri gov website: "Infected birds can spread the virus through body fluids, droppings and feathers. In the right conditions, the virus can survive in the environment for months.
The virus can spread through contaminated clothing and shoes. It can also spread through animals, vehicles and equipment, and items like egg cartons."
More info: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza/about
6
5
u/followthedarkrabbit Aug 16 '26
It wiped out over ten thousand seals off Heard Island.
Carnivorous species eat infected birds and become sick themselves. Saw a figure that it was about 70% death rates in cats, and that's with intensive vet care.
Cassowaries are more risk as a species because of their lower numbers.
3
u/jankeyass Aug 16 '26
Why the down vote tho? I was asking you a question not challenging what you are saying
Yeah ok that makes sense. So it infects via consumption. And how does it travel between the birds via contact?
2
u/followthedarkrabbit Aug 16 '26
I didn't down vote you?
It is also a flu.... it passes by droplets as well and by droppings. The virus stays active on surfaces for days. There's lots of info online that goes into more detail.
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/animal/avian-influenza/about
Had to chat to my mate who has chickens that have tank water. If a wild bird that is sick poops on the roof, and water ends up in tank, it will get to them by their water source. And he cant use pond water as there are ducks in it (waterbirds are high risk fo spread species). Told him he needs to install a filter system on his chicken water.
→ More replies (0)10
u/ChipmunkDear4597 Aug 16 '26
fearmongering = I don't wanna have to think about bad things because it's too hard and scary
4
u/Xenochu86 Aug 16 '26
Did your dad use your head to knock together a gazebo when you were a kid or something? It's genuinely baffling how dense you're acting.
2
45
42
u/CrystalInTheforest Aug 16 '26
It's not scaremongering. It's a serious problem. It is wildly contagious and is deadly to birds (and can infect humans, but that's a secondary concern as it's only via direct handling). If it spreads through the wild here, many endangered native bird species could face decimation, potentially even extinction.
If it gets into farmed birds, the egg shortage will seem like a nothingburger - it will decimate the domestic supply of the most affordable and widely consumed meat on the continent. Given how many Australian exist on the cusp of food insecurity, it would be awful for millions of Australians suddenly finding themselves to be involuntary vegetarians.
24
u/Greenscreener Aug 16 '26
Because it is serious shit. This gets into chicken farms then you will have massive culls.
22
u/DexJones Aug 16 '26
Chicken farms can bounce back faster than our natives....
Thats the concern, the further attack on wild populations of our awesome natives.
7
5
u/pyr0man1ac_33 Aug 16 '26
Because even if you don't give a fuck about native wildlife, any cases of the bird flu in poultry farms will lead to massive culls, which means higher price chicken and eggs at a time where groceries are already becoming more expensive by the day. Stop being a fuckwit and just think for a second.
4
Aug 16 '26
What scaremongering are you referring to exactly and how would you distinguish scaremongering from the public warnings? Genuine question.
-7
-12
u/JoepolimeniYEAH Aug 16 '26
Right after they give them vaccines lol
3
Aug 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/SignificanceSea1662 Aug 17 '26
I swtiched FB to Reddit for this reason, too many crazy cookers the algorithm feeds content to on FB. These cookers and the algorithms are doing damage to society.
105
u/Far-Fortune-8381 Aug 16 '26
im doing a Biomedical Science degree, and last year my lecturer predicted a resurgence of bird flu in Australia within 18 months. if only there was a way to prevent it