While in Blackpool this week I got talking to someone by the lake in Stanley Park who was feeding the geese and swans etc, we got talking about bird flu and he said this is what the Water Fowl Trust recommend, not a treatment but a anti viral
The sialic acid receptor on host cells is important as to why a specific influenza virus cannot infect all creatures. Human being cells for example mostly have sialic acid receptors with the atomic value a2,6. The H5N1 virion requires sialic acid receptors with a2,3 and so without this important value the virion will simply remain unattached and incapable of infection. Contrary to what is believed amongst the general public, not all birds are susceptible to avian flu and this is due to the cells within specific birds having compatible cells that the H5N1 virion requires. Swans, geese, ducks and many seabirds have a2,3 receptors in abundance and so are highly susceptible to the virus. Pigeons for example have very few a2,3 receptors and so the virus can only infect what is available within the bird. Such birds may just feel slightly sick but fortunately for them their immune system stands a chance to fight back and make the bird resistant should it come in contact with it again.
A common symptom is for the birds to become blind and this is due to the epithelial cells on the surface of the cornea also having sialic acid a2,3 receptors. These cells become influenza producing cells and are no longer transparent and so the surface of the eye becomes cloudy, with a blue tinge. This is called Corneal Opacity.
What can be done?
We’re familiar with antibiotics. These attack and kill bacteria but do not work with viruses. Antivirals however disrupt the manufacturing stages of a virus and so prevent further production. One such disruptive approach is to prevent the neuraminidase from releasing the newly formed virion. Neuraminidase Inhibitors nullify the neuraminidase protein and are very effective at essentially pressing pause on the virus. If it can be paused then no further host cells get compromised and the immune system should prevail. So long as the infection is caught before the bird is too sick then they’re quite capable of recovery – and often in just a few days.
There are approved Neuraminidase Inhibitors available for human use. Oseltamivir (known as Tamiflu) Zanamivir and Peramivir are the commonly used drugs available. A Google search for Avian Flu Cure will bring you straight to this information! There goes the ‘no cure’ belief.
Interestingly there are many naturally occurring plant extracts that disrupt this protein and some are very effective Neuraminidase Inhibitors. The product we use featured frequently in many of the complex research papers that I studied and all of them concluded that this product was very effective - and to my amazement it was available in this country as a food supplement from a major online company. Baicalin is a flavonoid from the east Asian flowering plant - Scutellaria Baicalensis. Baicalin has been extensively tested around the world to determine its efficacy as an antiviral against numerous viruses. It has been proven to be an excellent treatment for hepatitis, influenza and Marek's disease that affects chickens, along with many other viruses – even cancer cells. There is an incredible amount of research showing how effective Baicalin is in regard to a variety of health conditions. It is widely used throughout the world in beauty products such as anti-aging face and eye creams. It is also deemed to be of great benefit to the immune system whilst it responds to a viral attack. Baicalin has been used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years.
Baicalin is not a vaccine and so won’t prevent infection. It is an antiviral, which disrupts the virus if an infection has begun – the earlier the better. Symptoms don’t begin straight away and so if the virus can be stopped before symptoms become apparent then you are not breaking the law – you are simply preventing the disease from getting to that stage.
Bird Flu
You can obtain a bag of Baicalin here www.baicalin.co.uk or thewaterfowlsanctuary.company.site
£20 per 75 g bag
Has to be worth a try just to keep them healthy
£20 per 75 g bag
Has to be worth a try just to keep them healthy
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud 
What is Baicalin
Baicalin is a flavonoid extracted from the East Asian flowering plant Scutellaria Baicalensis (also known as Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap). It has antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years. Numerous scientific studies have identified Baicalin as an effective treatment for a range of health conditions affecting humans, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and asthma. In birds, it has been used to treat hepatitis, avian influenza (bird flu) and Marek's disease.
Baicalin is a flavonoid extracted from the East Asian flowering plant Scutellaria Baicalensis (also known as Baikal skullcap or Chinese skullcap). It has antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in Chinese medicine for over two thousand years. Numerous scientific studies have identified Baicalin as an effective treatment for a range of health conditions affecting humans, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and asthma. In birds, it has been used to treat hepatitis, avian influenza (bird flu) and Marek's disease.
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
There is no cure for bird flu. Just like human flu once infected it has to run it's course.
Bird flu has been around for thousands of years. It was once called 'Fowl Pest'
Bird flu was never a problem until MAN began housing THOUSANDS of birds in Poultry sheds. Making any infection inevitable.
There are many strains of bird flu Avian influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus:
Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16).
Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9).
Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible, for example H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, and H7N8.
AI viruses are also classified into two groups based on their ability to produce disease in chickens: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).
HPAI viruses cause high mortality in poultry and death in wild birds.
LPAI viruses can cause a variety of outcomes in poultry ranging from no apparent clinical signs to moderate death rates. LPAI viruses usually cause little to no signs in wild birds.
H5 and H7 LPAI viruses have the potential to change into HPAI viruses and are closely monitored by animal and public health officials. The first HPAI outbreak in the U.S. occurred in 2015 and the second outbreak started in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the lead federal agency for avian influenza in animals, but they work closely with many partner agencies, including the USGS.
And whilst vaccines for bird flu both for birds & humans do exist NONE stop the host actually getting bird flu, they only help with the symptoms. No Bird vaccines for bird flu are currently permitted in England,
I think fanciers should stay well clear of using Baicalin. whilst pigeons can get bird flu, the risk is extremely low . Why would you try to treat for something that they do not have and are very unlikely to get?
Bird flu has been around for thousands of years. It was once called 'Fowl Pest'
Bird flu was never a problem until MAN began housing THOUSANDS of birds in Poultry sheds. Making any infection inevitable.
There are many strains of bird flu Avian influenza (AI) type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus:
Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16).
Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9).
Many combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible, for example H5N1, H5N2, H7N2, and H7N8.
AI viruses are also classified into two groups based on their ability to produce disease in chickens: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).
HPAI viruses cause high mortality in poultry and death in wild birds.
LPAI viruses can cause a variety of outcomes in poultry ranging from no apparent clinical signs to moderate death rates. LPAI viruses usually cause little to no signs in wild birds.
H5 and H7 LPAI viruses have the potential to change into HPAI viruses and are closely monitored by animal and public health officials. The first HPAI outbreak in the U.S. occurred in 2015 and the second outbreak started in 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the lead federal agency for avian influenza in animals, but they work closely with many partner agencies, including the USGS.
And whilst vaccines for bird flu both for birds & humans do exist NONE stop the host actually getting bird flu, they only help with the symptoms. No Bird vaccines for bird flu are currently permitted in England,
I think fanciers should stay well clear of using Baicalin. whilst pigeons can get bird flu, the risk is extremely low . Why would you try to treat for something that they do not have and are very unlikely to get?
It is not a treatment but a helping hand to support them, I did say this
Sadies Lofts home of decent birds just a useless loft manager, and now a confirmed loser but proud
And on that basis, anyone who wants to use it, go for it.
I use a range of natural things to help my birds be in top health, this is another, I guess. And this is what it's all about. Human, horse, pigeon, the aim is to be too fit and healthy to let illnesses get on top of you.
Greetings from the land down under.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
That's the way I read it too mate, and personally if I can give my birds a helping hand in their recovery then I will do so.