April 21, 2008

Malpractices, poor poultry conditions causing bird flu outbreaks in India

The intensive confinement of birds on factory farms and other unsuitable practices rather than natural factors are the major reasons for the emergence of bird flu in India, according to an animal rights' group.

The federation of Indian animal protection organisations (FIAPO), an umbrella group of organisations working to improve the conditions of animals in India said increasingly prevalent industrial poultry production practices throughout the country, not only impair the welfare of birds, but also foster conditions ripe for diseases.

Broilers are selectively bred to reach market weight, in a fraction of the time these animals would grow naturally. FIAPO said such rapid growth has resulted serious diseases, among which is weakened immune function and skeletal and metabolic syndromes.

Similarly, egg-laying hens have been genetically manipulated for unnaturally high rates of laying eggs. Consequently, laying hens can endure abnormalities of the reproductive tract and metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis plus bone weakness. Layers suffer weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to disease, particularly when reared in overcrowded, poorly ventilated intensive confinement inherent to industrial poultry production. Indeed, high stocking density, stress, unhygienic conditions, and inbreeding practices are known to be responsible for the emergence of new highly pathogenic strains.

India has seen repeated outbreaks since its first outbreak in 2006 in Nandurbar district. Earlier this year, more than 3.9 million birds were culled and as of March 13 districts have been affected in West Bengal district.

Bird flu infection in humans who handle the infected birds is exceedingly rare, but experts fear that the virus may mutate into a form that is efficiently transmissible from human to human, thereby triggering a human pandemic, which could kill millions around the globe.

The FIAPO calls upon the government to impose restrictions on the stocking density of chickens confined on factory farms, prohibit the use of cages and inhumane rearing practices, initiate and encourage free range production, abolish the practice of breeding for growth or unnatural egg production at the expense of immunity and animal welfare; and implement the laws pertaining to prevention of cruelty to animals in poultry farming.

These measures could protect against the further emergence of highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza. The FIAPO also encourages the public to reduce and replace dietary poultry products with plant-based proteins.