While much of the focus on the H5N1 avian influenza virus has been on migratory wild birds spreading the disease into western Europe, smuggling in both Asia and Europe is also a source of infection. And a less predictable one, as well.
Following is a report filed by Tzu Mei Huang, deputy director, Surveillance Division, Center for Disease Control, Taiwan:
Taiwan intercepted a Panama-registered cargo ship from China on October 14th and found hundreds of smuggled birds, mice and turtles. Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) were responsible for this joint operation. The smuggled animals were destroyed the next day. 19 specimens were collected from the 1037 birds and were sent to the Animal Health Research Institute for RT-PCR and chick embryo inoculation to examine whether these birds carried avian flu virus.
The result came out today (20th) and showed those birds were avian flu H5N1-positive. Since the smuggled animals were completely destroyed, we are able to timely prevent the invasion of avian flu.
Officials wore full protective gear in the process of making arrests and destroying animals to protect their own health. They also followed self-health-management regulations to monitor [their own] health status for 10 days. All related personnel in the operation are currently in good health, and the local health bureaus and the 3rd Branch office of the Taiwan CDC will continue to monitor their health.
At the time of the operation, a total of 25 people were on board; 24 of them left the country on the same ship on 16 Oct 2005. One of them was detained in the Taichung Detention Center on the charge of smuggling. He showed no bird flu symptoms, and he will be administered preventive medication starting today.
