Threat to humans from avian flu exaggerated, veterinarians say
Submitted on November 8, 2005 - 1:00am.
David Kassabian - Fall 2005
WASHINGTON – A team of veterinarians cautioned Tuesday that exaggerated media and government reports of a deadly influenza pandemic triggered by the avian flu are causing needless public hysteria.
“We are very unlikely to get an avian flu strain that is infectious to humans,” said Daniel Perez, an assistant professor at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. “The chances of getting hit by avian influenza from wild birds is the same as getting hit by a lightning bolt.”
Perez, along with three other veterinary experts, said widespread prevention and detection methods are still integral in preventing an outbreak of the avian flu strain, also known as H5N1, which is currently infecting birds in Asia and Europe.
“We are very unlikely to get an avian flu strain that is infectious to humans,” said Daniel Perez, an assistant professor at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. “The chances of getting hit by avian influenza from wild birds is the same as getting hit by a lightning bolt.”
Perez, along with three other veterinary experts, said widespread prevention and detection methods are still integral in preventing an outbreak of the avian flu strain, also known as H5N1, which is currently infecting birds in Asia and Europe.
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