Pet Bird Bird Flu Information Center

Pet Bird Bird Flu / Pet Bird Avian Influenza

   

Avian Influenza H5N1 Information for Pet Bird Owners. We hope this information will reduce the number and severity of bird flu cases in pet birds by increasing your knowledge of the disease and thereby helping you become be better prepared to keep your pets safe in these troubled times of Pet Bird Bird Flu, Pet Bird Avian Flu, Pet Bird Avian Influenza, H5N1.

Bird Flu has infected several pet birds in Europe and Asia. Since it is an avian flu, if exposed, pet birds catch the disease much more readily than dogs or cats. Information is rapidly streaming in from many sources around the world as Bird Flu, H5N1 continues to spread. At this moment the disease has not been found in the United States in wild birds, pet birds, poultry, dogs or cats, but many expect it to occur shortly.

This web site is NOT trying to create a hysteria. Very few caged pet birds have been found infected World Wide. At this point, the risk to most pets appears low IF proper precautions are taken. However, outdoor pet birds are at high risk in infected areas.

Pet Bird Bird Flu Information Center is a Polson Enterprises web site.

The most likely transmission path for indoor pet birds is from other pet birds or by humans contaminated from handling other birds. The disease can come from direct contact with infected wild birds, poultry, pet birds, or other pets or with surfaces contaminated by them, including feed and water. Most indoor caged pet birds do not interact with wild birds, poultry, cats, dogs or other pets. They do interact with other pet birds.

The greatest area of exposure to pet birds is probably introducing new birds that may be infected or carrying the infection upon them or articles brought with them. Another leading risk of exposure is coming in contact with you after you have been near or handling contaminated birds in a pet store or bird mart. Several suggestions for reducing these risks are on our Steps to Keep My Pet Bird Safe From Bird Flu page.

Many wild birds, especially migratory birds, carry the virus in their respiratory and digestive tract, but do not actually become sick from it. Many pet birds, like poultry, are not resistant to the effects of the disease and rapidly die after contracting it.

Quite recently, several scientists are questioning if migratory birds are actually the path being used to spread the disease or not. They point to poultry as perhaps the vehicle, then local wild birds carrying the disease within a region.

A caged pet bird will probably not directly spread the disease to other birds outside the house in normal situations, but may be capable of spreading it to dogs and cats in the house which may then continue to spread the virus.

H5N1 symptoms in pet birds include swelling of the head, lethargy, loss of appetite and sudden death. In some cases their are no warning signs.

If you have cats, dogs or other pets, you may also be interested in out Pet Bird Flu Information Center.

Pet Bird Bird Flu Information

Government Statements on Pet Birds and Bird Flu

  • 25 Oct 2005 "Hong Kong Government Offers New Bird Flu Advice: Don't Kiss Your Pets" AP Worldstream reports the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department issued a statement "Bird Owners Should Not Kiss Their Pets" due to concerns following recent outbreaks nearby in China.

  • Several governments have issued laws prohibiting importing pet birds from infected areas.

Articles About Bird Flu in Pet Birds

    Articles will be logged here as they are encountered
    Many brief stories of bird flu in pets birds are on our Bird Flu News Page

Bird Flu Research Studies on Pet Birds

  • Animal Health and Welfare Aspects of Avian Influenza European Food Safety Authority. The ANNEX to this paper (Adopted 13/14 Sept 2005) is actually more interesting to pet owners. It provides in depth discussions of H5N1 and other highly pathogenic avian flu viruses from the aspect of Pet birds on Pages 33-38. The final page of the ANNEX covers pet bird smuggling issues, the use of disinfectants is covered on Pages 69-72, and illegal pet bird imports are covered on Pages 125-126.

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