2023-05-19 16:00:00
‘Ensuring possible transmission to humans through mutation’
REGION – Care in nature reserve De Onlanden. Local and regional media have been reporting outbreaks of the worrisome avian flu virus for some time now. This virus mutated in a poultry farm in China around the corona pandemic and is spreading across Europe at breakneck speed. This variant ‘survives’ and returns every year. The virus has now been found within a colony of the black-headed gull. How big are these concerns and are they limited to birds? Michel Wijnhold is coordinator of breeding bird counts in this area. According to him, we have to wait for the first human-to-human mutation. The first tests now show that it is more deadly than the corona virus. Have we become too scared, is it a boast or a serious problem?
‘I think we humans see every mutation as a boast. After corona we would like to forget this and we are starting to care less. But even if corona had never occurred, we would have estimated the same seriousness for this virus,’ says Wijnhold. Of the 2000 birds of the black-headed gull colony, more than 700 have now been culled. A significant increase that is worrying. Now that the security regions are also getting involved, the size seems larger than before. On January 1, 2023, he received the first photo of a dead black-headed gull. Only one case was suspected at the time. Bird flu has been around for centuries and the fact that dead birds are found every year is not new. In retrospect, the start of a catastrophic scenario in several nature reserves. ‘We didn’t test that seagull then. But with today’s knowledge, it was one of the first with the mutated virus that gives a very small chance of survival. Why it is more extensive than before is because it has spread within a colony of wild birds and not just in the poultry sector.’ Due to the increase in intensive livestock farming and free range, it is spreading faster. Many breeding birds feel safe among the black-headed gull. These birds protect everything in their path. Now that many birds are nesting within the colony in De Onlanden, the virus is spreading faster here. ‘Worst case, we will have to say goodbye to this colony. But it’s not that far yet. We have now had the first peak for this year.’ It is inevitable that there will be another flu wave next year. “There are two things at play. The spread of the virus to humans, a so-called zoonosis and the expansion to other bird species. From animal to human is already possible, but from human to human will become worrying.’
Eternal circles due to neurological damage
It is almost too pathetic to witness the dying process, Wijnhold knows from experience. ‘It is basically a respiratory infection, just like corona. We only know that it causes neurological damage in birds. What happens then is that birds are in a kind of state of shock or keep swimming in circles forever until they die. It is in and sad to have to experience. It is not known whether this can be done in humans. We therefore hope that if it should mutate as a human-to-human virus, we will be spared.’
National news focused on the poultry sector
Wijnhold is disturbed that only regional and local media report the outbreaks among wild birds. ‘In the national news we mainly hear about evictions at poultry farms. We are mainly concerned about the financial situation of the farmer, but no one questions why it is so common and whether it occurs outside the farm. That is precisely the basis of this virus. It needs to get more attention. In addition, people also have the idea that it is between birds and not in our society.’ It’s been a trade-off. The virus that has been living among wild birds for years once spread to a poultry farm in China. Here it has mutated into the much more deadly variant, type H5N1. This variant has been transferred from the poultry sector to the black-headed gull, among others. As birds make long journeys, the risk of spreading becomes much higher. ‘That’s why I’m also worried about the white-cheeked tern. Besides the Zuidlaardermeer area, De Onlanden is the only colony in all of Northwest Europe. Many people from abroad come to our area to spot the bird. This rare bird is extremely sensitive to this virus. Fortunately, we have not yet received any reports of a dead white-cheeked tern.’
Sample in Italy
At the moment, the size of the outbreaks is only tested by counting the dead animals. A sample was recently taken in Italy where many apparently ‘healthy birds’ were also tested. The results showed that the size of the outbreak was much larger than previously thought. ‘In the Netherlands we now hear a lot about it because we have many poultry farms and house many colonies on relatively few hectares. But it’s a problem all over the world now. A major outbreak has even been reported in Canada.’ Tens of thousands of storm gulls spend the winter at Lake Leekster, which may have taken the virus to their breeding grounds around the Baltic Sea. ‘I’m genuinely curious how many of these will return next year. Only then will the extent of this virus really become clear.’
Deadly to humans
It is not yet possible to determine exactly what the dangers are. To this end, too little is known and tested. The RIVM is researching a vaccine, but has not yet succeeded. So the concerns are there. Because if an epidemic breaks out between people, preparations have been made. Do we have to worry? ‘Not equal. You can walk quietly through the area. Be sure to stay within the trails and keep your dog on a leash. Herein lies the danger. Your dog only has to lick a dead bird once and the virus can spread in a different way. It has already been shown that foxes, martens and otters are susceptible. The advice is therefore not to touch any dead animal in the wild.’ Wijnhold understands that people see this as exaggerated and something that will blow over. ‘Because of corona, the swine flu and FMD, we know that every twenty years a deadly virus from the animal kingdom is able to transfer to humans. Now corona is just behind us, but due to our changing landscape and society, similar outbreaks will follow faster. It is therefore wise to recognize the dangers and not to cover your eyes.’ According to Wijnhold, the virus will have to contain itself. “But that’s not the concern. Affected birds may eventually have smaller nests. Those bites from the population cause a decrease in the population. Because this virus is a product of intensive livestock farming, with which there are many more problems, I am in favor of more, but smaller farms. I’m not an economist, so I don’t know how it all works financially. But only then can we keep the future free of these scenarios.’ (Photo: Michel Wijnhold)
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