The news -- or at least, the buzz -- of the avian flu, is a topic that just won't go away. Just this morning, I heard on the news that in Thailand, they are implementing a pigeon cull, to try to prevent it from spreading. Elsewhere in Asia (I think; I can't remember exactly where), millions of chickens have already been killed, for this same reason.
One expert said that, at this point, there has been no proof that this virus can or is spreading from animals to humans. He also said that so far, less than a dozen humans have been affected worldwide, by it. But, he added, millions of birds (chickens, so far) have been culled and he believes that this may be the best way to try to stem it. He fears that if more humans come down with it and if the human flu virus mixes with the avian one, it will indeed mutate into a virus that will be more easily spread to and among humans.
After last year's SARS epidemic, I think people (i.e., people in the medical and health care communities) are much more aware of the possible disastrous outcomes of ignorance and denial, and are therefore trying desperately to be vigilant and pro-active. The prospect of a *pandemic* developing from this is very frightening; but my question is this: what happens to the balance in nature when massive culls are implemented without positive proof that this is where the problem really lies? It is not unlike the Mad Cow scare (how many cows have been destroyed so far?), West Nile (larvacide programs), and others I am probably not remembering at the moment. I am not a scientist and therefore am not speaking from knowledge, just from my own curiosity. I'm not a big fan of mosquitos or pigeons and wouldn't miss a few million of them, myself, but looking at the larger issue, I can't help but wonder what this picture will look like, say, six months, a year from now?
Anyhow have any thoughts on this?
