Bird Flu: Don't listen to media hysteria

[00:00:00]Hi, it's Graham here from In-Situ Canterbury. Only 2 and 1/2 minutes away from the Christchurch Airport, offering a best price guarantee. [music] Come and try us, Canterbury.

[00:00:08]>> Bird flu continues to make headlines around the world, but separating scientific fact from speculation and media hysteria, well, it can be tricky, as you know. But, joining me is Ilam MP Hamish Campbell. You see, before entering Parliament, Campbell spent more than 15 years working in science and academia. He holds a PhD in viruses and cancer from the University of Otago, where his research examined how viruses interact with human cells, giving him a pretty valuable perspective, I would have thought, on infectious diseases and public health. Hamish, nice to see you.

[00:00:39]Thanks so much for your time.

[00:00:41]>> Well, thank you for having me, Chris. I think this is a very important topic.

[00:00:45]>> So, what exactly is bird flu in terms of comparing that to different types of influenza that most people actually experience, Hamish?

[00:00:52]>> Well, it is actually a form of influenza virus, and the H1N1 is actually just referring to the types of or or subtypes of proteins that encoded by by the virus. Um and so, it actually has been around for 30 years circulating around the world through different bird populations.

[00:01:11]>> So, what makes this unique at the moment, the news narrative unique in the fact that we seem to be hearing more of it? Obviously, there are a few cases in New Zealand, but I mean, what do you what do you make of the media coverage so far?

[00:01:23]>> Well, I think there's probably a lot of misunderstanding of what what it what it means. Um we have had now had two cases of bird flu detected here in New Zealand. Possibly, there is there may be other other cases, but I think it kind of comes back to the fact there's that this has been circulating around around the globe for the past 30 years, and there has been a few people infected, but there we haven't really seen human-to-human transmission. This virus appears to be well adapted uh to the bird population. I think we need to be really mindful of our birds here in New Zealand, and I think uh DOC and MPI have been doing a very good job of ensuring some of our endangered species have actually been vaccinated. Probably not the easiest task to do, uh but it does mean that we might be able to protect some of our birds from this quite lethal flu that's going through the bird population.

[00:02:10]>> How much based on the evidence available today, what is the actual level of risk to New Zealand? Um the biosecurity risk, I suppose.

[00:02:18]>> Well, the thing is that birds we can't control birds like potentially we can control other animal populations or even the human population. So, migratory birds are going to be able to come and go into New Zealand, and they potentially are carriers, and that's I think we would probably seen it reach the shores of of New Zealand. I think what we we're not going to be able to get rid of rid of this virus, but I think there's been strong plans put in place by the poultry uh industry to hopefully be able to manage it because of course the big risk is that some of our uh poultry, our chicken farms may get infected by the virus, which would have devastating impacts on on on flocks. So, they've been busy preparing for this for a for a number of years. It is as I said, it's not nothing It's not a novel virus.

[00:03:01]>> Yeah. What are some of the most uh I suppose are the common myths or misunderstandings about bird flu that you're hearing that you want to >> I think that's probably >> Yeah, I think probably people people um think that we're going to have uh another pandemic or another flu outbreak. Look, while it can [clears throat] happen, I think it's probably going to be relatively rare. Uh this virus does seem to be well adapted to the bird bird population. Um also, people talking about separating out their their uh frozen chickens from other other food stuffs. Um I think what we'll find is actually our chickens and eggs are are are safe safe safe to eat. Um I don't think there's any necessary need for for panic.

[00:03:41]>> Yeah, nicely said.

[00:03:43]How much as both a scientist and a member of member of parliament, what advice would you give New Zealanders when it comes to, you know, consuming information about this emerging public health issue.

[00:03:54]Because it can it can be tricky because people whenever they hear the words, you know, virus they think give me a break. We're not going down that road again.

[00:04:01]>> Yeah, no, look, the viruses they they they everywhere. We we're surrounded by viruses every single day of our lives.

[00:04:07]There's been studies that suggest a teaspoon of seawater will have about 10 million virus particles in it. So, we are bombarded by viruses whether we like it or not. Uh but they do tend to be quite specific to different different species. I think when it kind of comes to to consuming information, I think uh the Ministry of Primary Industries does have an amazing resource in actually providing information on bird flu. Uh I appreciate uh there might be other things circulating, but always probably go back to those official sources.

[00:04:38]>> Also, I mean just briefly, I mean bird flu has as you say it's infected humans in the past, but it is quite hard to catch though, isn't it? Because it really does tend to target birds.

[00:04:51]>> Yes, and if you can imagine a bit of a lock and a key, a virus has to be in the right shape to be able to fit into that lock, which is ourselves. And of course, currently this virus is looking very different to what what would the key would need to be to allow it to affect a human cell. So, it's when we have seen transmission to humans, it has been people that have had close contact with with birds. So, the advice would be if you see a sick bird or you see a number of of dead birds that then get in touch with MPI and report it. Um don't go around playing with with maybe the carcasses of dead birds.

[00:05:29]>> Oh, I'll keep that in mind. Ilam MP Hamish Campbell, thanks so much for your insight. Really appreciate it.

[00:05:34]>> Thank you, Chris.