President Bush on Tuesday unveiled a $7.1 billion emergency spending plan in case of a bird flu pandemic, but Utahns who work with the winged creatures have been prepared for months — and in some cases, years — for a possible national outbreak.
"We're definitely all getting in the initial stages of preparation," said Dr. Nancy Carpenter, senior veterinarian at Utah's Hogle Zoo. "We do feel like it's going to come here. But we have no idea if it's going to become a human problem."
Currently, officials at the zoo and Tracy Aviary say they are not concerned about a local pandemic. Both are prepared for a possible quarantine. And the Utah Agriculture Department's avian influenza committee created a surveillance, prevention and emergency plan for the state last winter.
"Our current protocol is more than enough to keep the birds from disease," said Julie Brown, community relations manager and volunteer coordinator with Salt Lake's Tracy Aviary.
The aviary has roughly 400 birds, including bald eagles and a 40-year-old Andean Condor. Before the aviary will place a new bird with existing ones, the bird is quarantined for 30-60 days and must pass several weeks of health tests.
While no cases of the H5N1 avian flu virus have been detected in the United States, more than 60 people have died from the virus in Asia. More than 140 million birds have been killed worldwide in an attempt to stop the flu from spreading.
The virus recently has been found in birds in Europe and, on Tuesday, it was found in wild birds in Canada. There is no evidence that the flu can spread from one person to another, and those who have contracted the virus have had direct contact with infected birds — either poultry or wild birds.
Experts fear if the virus mutates, it could turn into a form that can be easily spread through human-to-human contact. The result could be a global outbreak, potentially including many deaths.
Dr. Doug Folland, a veterinarian at Parrish Creek Clinic in Centerville, said people should not worry too much about the avian influenza.
"It certainly warrants people preparing, but it doesn't warrant people being fanatical about it," Folland said.
In addition to dealing with pet birds through the clinic, Folland does vet work with birds at Tracy Aviary and Ogden Nature Center. He noted the bird flu exists all over the world. It's the particular avian influenza H5N1 strain that is creating international worry.
"It's very comparable to what you see in people who get the flu," he said.
Birds will have flu-like symptoms such as aching muscles, respiratory discharge, coughs, sneezes, diarrhea and loss of appetite, Folland said. In addition, it's very contagious.
"With all flu viruses, what makes it kind of scary is they are very efficient at mutating," he said.
Humans most at risk of catching the flu are those who work with poultry or wild birds. It's highly unlikely pet or caged birds will be infected.
There is also a very low threat that the poultry humans eat will have the influenza because the meat is tested and cooked at high levels. And, Folland noted, there is still a possibility the flu could simply die before it reaches the states.
"I have never diagnosed a confirmed case of avian influenza" in any form, he said. "The place that it's most commonly seen is in chickens. It's pretty unlikely that a sick chicken is going to come flying in your house and sneeze on your pet parrot."
Because the influenza is contagious, migratory birds can easily pass it along.
"There's certainly pathways. They can get here relatively easy and I don't think there's any way we can keep it out," Folland said.
Wild birds regularly fly to the water sources at Tracy Aviary and Hogle Zoo. Both institutions say emergency plans are set or in the works, but neither expect to use them.
"Utah was able to prepare years in advance for West Nile virus and when it came, we were ready for it," said Carpenter, who is also on the American Zoo and Accreditation Association's animal health committee. "I look at the avian influenza the same way. Even though there's no problem yet . . . we need to be prepared for it. Our birds are priceless and irreplaceable to us."
Both the zoo and the aviary must follow strict rules under the American Zoo and Accreditation Association. The association outlines how to obtain a new bird, how often enclosures need to be cleaned and safety standards for keeper-bird interaction. Neither institution has had animals affected with West Nile virus.
Almost two weeks ago, a parrot died in quarantine in the United Kingdom and tested positive for avian flu, putting pet shops there on high alert.
Pet shops contacted by the Deseret Morning News in Bountiful, Sandy, Salt Lake City, West Valley City and Provo all said they are not concerned about the virus affecting their stock of pet birds. Most birds in pet shops are born and raised in captivity, so there is little threat of an outside disease.
Contributing: Associated Press
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com