Dr LIM - 2005-10-18
Scientists say that the likelihood of local poultry and native birds becoming infected by migratory birds is minimal. However, other countries such as South Africa are regularly testing migratory birds for evidence of the Avian bird flu virus. Given that a number of species of migratory birds visit the Territory from Asia, and even from as far away as northern Europe, are plans being made to test migratory birds in our Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was looking at my colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, to see who would best field this question because, while the member was away last week, we actually did canvass these issues.
Dr Lim: I will read the Hansard.
Dr TOYNE: If you would like me to answer, perhaps you could just listen and we will give you an answer.
We briefed the community, through a media conference and parliament during the debate last week, about the assessment of the risk of Avian flu virus entering the Territory, in the form of bird transmission, which is largely a matter of the arrangements for monitoring the wild bird populations. The Chief Veterinarian indicated the actions that are being taken to monitor for the presence of the virus in our wild bird population. Regarding chickens, there is relatively little production of poultry in the Northern Territory so it is really more a matter of monitoring the wild bird population.
The other briefing we provided, both to the House and to the community, was the assessments of the probability of the virus mutating to a form that could transmit from one person to another, given that there is no evidence that such a mutation has occurred. There has been a very small number of cases world-wide of the virus infecting a human being - I believe 72 was the number. To be infected, those victims had to be in very close association with infected birds.
It certainly has not mutated and escaped into a pandemic form of virus in the human population. There is clearly a potential that that mutation could occur. That is being monitored worldwide. As the Chief Health Officer said, we are looking for clustered cases of Avian flu which would indicate person-to-person transmission. That is what our whole national pandemic plan is based on and we will continue to progress it.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I was looking at my colleague, the Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries, to see who would best field this question because, while the member was away last week, we actually did canvass these issues.
Dr Lim: I will read the Hansard.
Dr TOYNE: If you would like me to answer, perhaps you could just listen and we will give you an answer.
We briefed the community, through a media conference and parliament during the debate last week, about the assessment of the risk of Avian flu virus entering the Territory, in the form of bird transmission, which is largely a matter of the arrangements for monitoring the wild bird populations. The Chief Veterinarian indicated the actions that are being taken to monitor for the presence of the virus in our wild bird population. Regarding chickens, there is relatively little production of poultry in the Northern Territory so it is really more a matter of monitoring the wild bird population.
The other briefing we provided, both to the House and to the community, was the assessments of the probability of the virus mutating to a form that could transmit from one person to another, given that there is no evidence that such a mutation has occurred. There has been a very small number of cases world-wide of the virus infecting a human being - I believe 72 was the number. To be infected, those victims had to be in very close association with infected birds.
It certainly has not mutated and escaped into a pandemic form of virus in the human population. There is clearly a potential that that mutation could occur. That is being monitored worldwide. As the Chief Health Officer said, we are looking for clustered cases of Avian flu which would indicate person-to-person transmission. That is what our whole national pandemic plan is based on and we will continue to progress it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016