Originally from: Mary Critchley
                        
April 12 2006 ~ "DEFRA is like a dead swan – Discuss"

Magnus Linklater in The Times today asks: "Why are we still shuttling dead birds across the country to the single laboratory capable of testing them, when there is a sophisticated and foolproof form of local testing that could diagnose the virus in under six hours? "
".... this vital work should be removed from under the dead hand of Defra and handed to an independent advisory body that could draw together the necessary scientific expertise from all sources and then come up with objective advice, free of government constraints. Perhaps the Royal Societies, north and south of the border, with their long traditions of independence, could act as the umbrella body. Something needs to be done if we are not to stumble into another pandemic disaster. Next time we may be dealing with more than just a dead swan." Read in full

April 12 2006 ~ "people with little first-hand knowledge of the one science they should be on top of: virology."

Magnus Linklater points out clearly what the basic problem is
"...What is disturbing about so many of the statements coming out of Defra – about the need to bring free-range flocks indoors, to end organic farming, to "monitor" but never to introduce vaccination – is that they are made by people with little first-hand knowledge of the one science they should be on top of: virology. There is brilliant work being done in research centres in Britain on zoonotic diseases and the vaccines needed to control them, but it rarely seems to filter upwards to Defra…" More
Mr Linklater draws attention to the Rapid diagnostic machines(see warmwell page) and their ilk – fully functioning since the beginning of the Foot and Mouth crisis – but ignored, at terrible cost, by the UK.

April 12 2006 ~ "Every minister and every official, taking their cue from government scientists, dutifully repeats…..."

Times article ".... Every minister and every official, taking their cue from government scientists, dutifully repeats that vaccines would only "mask" the disease rather than control it. Ben Bradshaw, the Defra Minister, claims that "overwhelming scientific advice" shows that the disadvantages of their use greatly outweigh the advantages. Clearly he has not read the detailed scientific papers on the Hong Kong and Vietnam outbreaks, where the opposite has been proved: that vaccination can control and eliminate avian flu and that tests can establish whether it is still present or hidden. ..." (Scientific peer reviewed papers may be viewed on warmwell's H5N1 page.)

April 12 2006 ~ "Officials have since attempted to explain the mistake by pointing out that the bird's head was missing.."

and it was badly decomposed. But they were criticised last night for taking so long to make a positive identification. A spokesman for the RSPB said it was important to get the species right first time. "We hope the authorities will learn from this mistake," he said…." Telegraph (See also cartoon from Germany..showing German swans who like to have sole use of the beach…)

April 12 2006 ~ The New Scientist suggests UK bird tests were flawed – but DEFRA says the most up-to-date testing technologies for avian flu viruses are being used.

DEFRA has said that tests on wild birds are negative for bird flu, suggesting that H5N1 is not widespread in the country. However, according to Reuters:
"An investigation by New Scientist suggests that all those tests were flawed, meaning no one really knows just how widespread infection among British wild birds might be" ..... DEFRA defended its methods, saying the most up-to-date testing technologies for avian flu viruses are being used
... "
It would be interesting to know what these "most up-to-date testing technologies" are when it took a week to determine that the Callerdyke swan was infected. As Dr Dr James Irvine asks below:"What has happened to the recommended rapid task force that would go to an area where disease is suspected, armed with portable RealTime-PCR equipment that could make a reliable diagnosis, including strain type, within 4 hours maximum? " £400,000 for state -of- the-art rapid diagnostic on-site tests could make Scotland the best equipped country in Europe. As Dr Breeze says "There are hundreds of scientists and technicians in Scotland today who know how to do PCR tests (a standard lab tool) and who could learn the works of the RAPID in an afternoon."

(Thank goodness for Magnus Linklater. Warmwell is still updating every day. Best wishes from Mary)