The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7357 p39
9 July 2005

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Avian influenza identified in a population of wild geese

The virus that causes avian influenza has been identified in a migratory goose population in western China, several reports say this week.

The H5N1 virus, usually confined to poultry farms, was detected in swabs taken from wild geese that died after exhibiting avian flu features. The scientists say that, should the virus become established in this wild species, it might be carried along its migration routes, spreading to the south Asian subcontinent and possibly Europe. Links to reports can be accessed here

A meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur this week, jointly organised by the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health, where the parties discussed risk reduction measures for the production, processing and distribution of poultry for food.