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pegothejerk t1_iu50ghg wrote

FYI: until a vector of spread is discovered, all those in suspected affected regions or near them should take down all bird feeding stations, empty bird baths and cease all feeding activities at home and public to avoid encouraging birds to gather and spread it more.

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Zerole00 t1_iu5m3r9 wrote

We should release snakes that eat these birds and if the snakes get out of control I have a mongoose guy I can recommend

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scipio818 t1_iu69xzi wrote

And the beauty is, when winter time comes around they'll freeze to death. Solving the issue once and for all.

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little_gnora t1_iu6tnp2 wrote

Not with global warming! 🫠

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oki-ra t1_iu7i05a wrote

Like my daddy puts in his drink every morning. Then he gets mad.

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Amrak4tsoper t1_iu7gsc6 wrote

Dude where have you been it got rebranded to Climate Change ages ago. So any type of weather can count for it

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[deleted] t1_iu7p2mj wrote

[removed]

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PuellaBona t1_iu7pazh wrote

But he's not wrong.

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WhyHulud t1_iu6krnc wrote

What do we do when the mongeese get out of hand

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OlyScott t1_iu6tbhq wrote

They have that problem in Hawaii. They haven't solved it.

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zer1223 t1_iu7ejrv wrote

What eats those? Wolverines?

Release a bunch of wolverines

3

Niicks t1_iu9fbup wrote

A bunch of clones of a hunky Australian actor wandering around fighting mongoose? Sign me up!

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Emperorboosh t1_iu7ajba wrote

Bring in chimps to attack them

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Cetun t1_iu7efxq wrote

Alternative beginning to Escape from the Planet of the Apes

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Robbotlove t1_iu52z95 wrote

I dunno man. between climate change destruction, the ever wider and wider wealth disparity between the ruling corporate class and the rest of us and this zombie bird virus, I think maybe we'd have a better chance of survival with a zombie apocalypse.

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pegothejerk t1_iu53h1t wrote

Nature doesn't have any rules about only having one disaster at a time

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frankensteinisswell t1_iu5fs5e wrote

That is so bleak and so accurate

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ButterflyAttack t1_iu5o1f4 wrote

In fact, they tend to cascade. Environmental damage, drought or flood, reduced crop yields, famine, war, plague. Usually in that order but sometimes they get mixed up, and sometimes you get a bonus natural disaster.

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OhGawDuhhh t1_iu65sw2 wrote

Good thing human brains are soooooo great at understanding compounding effects

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LewisEFurr t1_iu54ayd wrote

ha, imagine being in a zombie survival situation with 10 people and 4 of them think zombies are a fake liberal conspiracy.

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Stephanreggae t1_iu54iss wrote

And 3 of them are trying to figure out how they can capitalize on undead workers.

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Rich_Hedberg t1_iu58aek wrote

"It's perfect Charles, they eat anything. They don't think for themselves. There's no way they'll unionize. You need to stop looking at this as an apocalypse and start looking at it as a business opportunity. You're never going to get Senior Director with that attitude."

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TheShadowKick t1_iu6aejk wrote

Getting some real RE: Your Brains vibes here.

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Clip_Clops t1_iu8vul9 wrote

You never had the head for all that, bigger picture stuff.

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Beard_o_Bees t1_iu59vgv wrote

Pay them under the table with brains, while also loudly complaining about how the place is being overrun with zombies.

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Skellum t1_iu5o2sv wrote

> Pay them

Remember you have to compete with nations with slave labor, so if you even have to pay the zombies it's not worth it.

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Idaho_Brotato t1_iu5a77w wrote

I'd probably be OK with that since we are living in their shelter, eating their food and using their weapons.

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foxrun89 t1_iu5inh9 wrote

I think a zombie apocalypse would be far more enjoyable than the one we got now.

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70ms t1_iu5fm9u wrote

I've been playing a lot of DayZ lately to prepare.

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t4ct1c4l_j0k3r t1_iu55jig wrote

That won't work and here is why. Birds are flock feeders regardless of where the food/water is. What attracts one, attracts all.

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UncannyTarotSpread t1_iu567da wrote

It will help by reducing cross species exposure to infected birds and fecal matter

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pegothejerk t1_iu5828x wrote

It does work and is suggested by experts every time this happens with other bird pathogens of concern.

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t4ct1c4l_j0k3r t1_iu5d4zb wrote

In an environment where a species is contained (ex: poultry farm), segregation of species is possible. In the wild, all bets are off. If one bird sees another feeding, it will approach, and another, and so forth. Same with water.

Now if you keep domesticated pigeons and you also set out food/water for your flock and wild birds to intermingle, it's a bit different. It seems that this is the only place where this could have an impact on spread, but only for each flock in question.

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pegothejerk t1_iu5e25x wrote

The advice is to not add to the free roaming bird population yet another social space to gather, as birds by nature stay in fairly isolated groups, but will co-mingle outside their flocks with even other species when food sources are extraordinary rich compared to those they’re used to otherwise in more natural settings. This isn’t a new idea, it’s well established and accepted by experts. Don’t add to the problem. Birds don’t just go around greeting every bird in their city/state.

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mrshatnertoyou t1_iu51jra wrote

>Pigeons have become a target of a terrible disease called the Pigeon Paramyxovirus (PPMV) or Newcastle's Disease in the UK. It results in neurological symptoms, including trembling wings and a violently twisted neck. The affected pigeons become reluctant to move and can't fly. They also have green feces. The disease is fatal for pigeons.

>A JSPCA Animal Shelter spokesperson reported that the shelter had increased the number of grounded pigeons in the last few weeks. Many affected birds had neurological symptoms, such as a twisted neck, circling, or inability to stand. The spokesperson added that these symptoms are signs of pigeon paramyxovirus that affects poultry, doves and pigeons and is invariably fatal.

>PPMV is a notifiable disease in captive birds. It does not apply to wild birds. The affected birds die within a few days, and there is no treatment for the disease. PPMV is highly infectious and can spread through feces and other excretions of the affected birds. Surviving birds will shed the virus, becoming a risk to other birds. So, at JSPCA, the infected birds are humanely euthanised. Since the PPMV virus survives better in cold and wet months, the disease's clusters are usually found at this time of the year.

>FAQs

>Does the Pigeon Paramyxovirus (PPMV) or Newcastle's Disease affect only pigeons?

>PPMV affects doves, pigeons and poultry.

>Is PPMV highly infectious?

>PPMV is highly infectious, spreading through the affected bird's feces and other secretions.

From another article not behind a wall.

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Morsigil t1_iu5ic4t wrote

Huh.. "invariably fatal" and "surviving birds" seem mutually exclusive.

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Piranha91 t1_iu5nz0l wrote

Pretty sure it means before they shed virus while they’re still alive.

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Lukeds t1_iu64brt wrote

I mean they don't in context but they do in your comment. Birds that have caught the disease but HAVE NOT died aka "surviving birds" spread the disease. Then they will die eventually.

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TooDamnPretty t1_iu66e52 wrote

"infected birds" would be a better word choice. Surviving implies recovery, which doesn't match with a 100% fatality rate.

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PuellaBona t1_iu7ptnl wrote

The article was wrong. Some birds do survive. No pathogen kills 100% of its hosts. It wouldn't survive.

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ecuintras t1_iu5rqc1 wrote

Oh snap. I saw a post about a pigeon with these symptoms a few weeks ago.

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DeFex t1_iu6cfq4 wrote

So this could easily hit chicken factories?

1

tinypieceofmeat t1_iu7bbuy wrote

> Newcastle's Disease

Woah, we don't name diseases after places.

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bakedbeebs t1_iu65lhz wrote

i literally just saw a tiktok about ‘pigeons are friends, we carry no more disease than cats and dogs’ womp

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AugustWolf22 OP t1_iu4ywvz wrote

apologies for the stupid headline they went with, this disease is Very serious however, so all fellow UK redditors please keep an eye out for sick birds.

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PetzlPretzel t1_iu55jjh wrote

No no no. Since 2019 this has all been a shit show. This is better than nuclear winter. I'll take the zombies and roll with it.

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ItsGK t1_iu5e8ib wrote

Everything was fine until the Cubs won the World Series.

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solidus610 t1_iu6ci47 wrote

Everything was fine until they shot Harambe, we are living through the Harambe shot timeline.

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chiefkiefnobeef t1_iu51mck wrote

Birds infected with the virus will usually die within a few days but this is long enough for it to keep spreading between birds

Pigeons who fall ill with pigeon paramyxovirus, a disease also known as PPMV or Newcastle’s Disease, will experience a range of neurological symptoms, such as a violently twisted neck and trembling wings.

They also dramatically lose weight, have green droppings, walk in circles (often meaning they can’t fly), and are reluctant to move.

While the disease cannot affect humans, it can cause conjunctivitis in those handling the sick birds and so caution is advised.

The condition and its alarming symptoms have caused people to call infected birds ‘zombie pigeons’. Here’s what you need to know about the disease.

Are there zombie pigeons in the UK? It has so far affected populations on Jersey, where some birds have had to be euthanised.

There haven’t been recorded cases on the mainland yet, and officials in Jersey are putting down birds in the hopes of preventing the spread of the disease any further.

What steps are being taken to combat zombie pigeons? The government has released advice to those who own or handle pigeons, recommending: “Vaccinating your pigeons against the disease – talk to your vet for advice [if you run pigeons shows or races, you must ensure any bird taking part has been vaccinated] and practising strict biosecurity on your premises.”

JSPCA Animal Shelter on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands has been leading attempts to contain the disease, telling the Mirror that the illness has no treatment “and many birds die within a few days”.

“Any that do survive will continue to shed the virus and be a risk to other birds,” a spokesperson added. “At the JSPCA, affected birds are humanely euthanased.”

The disease is extremely infectious among birds, spreading through droppings and other bodily fluids. It’s especially common at this time of year, as the virus can survive longer in the wetter, colder months.

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BroadAbroad t1_iu56qlk wrote

Poor things. I have a soft spot for pigeons as a parrot owner. Pigeons are sweet and gentle and have done so much for humans and we just abandoned them. I've always said if I get another bird, it'll be a pigeon.

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LordFluffy t1_iu54l2h wrote

Zombie Pigeons.

Who's got Bingo?

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maddogcow t1_iu6ryul wrote

Not zombies, acuz they are alive. They are majority voting bloc pigeons.

1

Soliae t1_iu53jrs wrote

This isn't a freaking mystery, it's Newcastle's, which has been around for quite some time. Chickens can get it, too.

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veryabnormal t1_iu8ntd6 wrote

They say it is a mystery and then say what it is and what causes it in the 2nd sentence.

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earthwormzug t1_iu523ch wrote

Get to the Winchester asap

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MMSG91 t1_iu5q1zl wrote

...and wait for all of this to blow over.

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ci_newman t1_iu5ksnk wrote

What an utterly s**t headline and header photo.

"There's been no reports of illness on mainland UK, just a few birds seen in Jersey". So no, it hasn't been seen in London despite the picture.

There's also a greater chance of it passing and spreading across mainland Europe than in the UK - go check a map.

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briefbriefs t1_iu50tvw wrote

I don’t want to sign up to read the article. Can anyone post it?

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Larkshade t1_iu52hjv wrote

I didn’t know 28 days later was a documentary.

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1stFunestist t1_iu5us21 wrote

Now we just need to reach the Pub, order a pint and wait untill all of this nonsense blows over.

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ph30nix01 t1_iu5npbf wrote

Let's hope this doesn't get to our chicken populations

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Zeniphyre t1_iu58ndx wrote

Summary for people who do not want to make an account?

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AugustWolf22 OP t1_iu5kdii wrote

An outbreak of a horrible and fatal disease that causes pigeons and other birds to violently and involuntarily spasm and fit has recently been reported on Guernsey and Jersey. there are fears that the disease could reach the rest of the UK. the virus that causes the disease is called: Pigeon Paramyxovirus (PPMV)

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AramaicDesigns t1_iu7cfp4 wrote

Which is very well known, its vector of transmission is understood, and if you have pet birds, there is a vaccine against it that most pigeon fanciers inoculate their flocks with to begin with.

This is nothing special.

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Few-Evidence-7534 t1_iu5c2ye wrote

I got a letter today from DEFRA saying I live inside of, or in the direct vicinity of, an avian flu outbreak, so uhhhhhh... Combine that with this headline and I suppose i'll let you guys know when it jumps to humans lol.

...Although with some of the country bumpkins around here it may be hard to tell if they're infected or just left the pub.

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Fizzicyst t1_iu60lsf wrote

I initially thought 'Zombie Pidgeon' was a new moniker for the Tories.

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theHip t1_iu5t9bs wrote

It’s a disease that kills pigeons - what is the relations to zombies?

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hellzkeeper1216 t1_iu6oqbw wrote

I guess they used cheap batteries in these during the lock downs. Should have used Duracell.

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dedzip t1_iu783ph wrote

“This is not the t virus”

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NateShaw92 t1_iui03zj wrote

It's the tea virus. We had it wrong all along.

1

AramaicDesigns t1_iu7c263 wrote

It's not a mystery. The article says it's paramyxovirus. Newcastles.

This is well-known to pigeon fanciers, and many flocks are vaccinated against it.

Doesn't help too much with ferals, though. It will chew through them occasionally, and the next generation is stronger against it.

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Hyth4n t1_iu5a1g5 wrote

I'm sorry, Earth is closed today.

1

snapper1971 t1_iu5ux73 wrote

It's not fatal as in systematic failure but more it makes them vulnerable to predation. Pigeons with PPMV1 (pigeon paramyxovirus-1) will make a full recovery. It is not transmissible to humans although hygiene is necessary if handling infected birds (or just birds in general ya dirty mingers)

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red_sutter t1_iu60qzu wrote

Might want to avoid taking the train for a few days, y'all

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jschubart t1_iu67tc1 wrote

They are already drones.

1

Johnisfaster t1_iu6lesw wrote

How does “the pigeon will get sick and then die” = zombies?

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gromnirit t1_iu6ly9l wrote

And so the Zombie Apocalypse begins.

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Ok-Software-1902 t1_iu6r1q3 wrote

This is just fear-mongering about Newcastle’s disease.

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randomnighmare t1_iu6vhpg wrote

Is this some kind of avian prion disease? Or is this something new and in terms of talking about "zombies", are we talking about the hyper strong/fast kind or the slow rotting kind that is easier to avoid?

1

SuperSimpleSam t1_iu7guc1 wrote

Finally something bad in UK that can't be blamed on BREXIT.

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[deleted] t1_iu8ehmp wrote

The Game of Shadows have begun my dear Watson

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buddyravage t1_iu8fni7 wrote

Pigeons seem like braindead birds anyway, how can we tell if one is infected?

1

oceansblue1984 t1_iu56dsq wrote

I'm all for a zombie apocalypse this world is skipping to my loo right off a cliff

0

jippyzippylippy t1_iu5aopb wrote

Then it jumps to humans and we're suddenly "Walking Dead: The Reality Version".

0

TehJohnny t1_iu5f7oj wrote

Finally, the global reset is starting.

0

Maruff1 t1_iu5y80e wrote

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I'm ready for this shit to be over!!!

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