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Kurt Sansone
Government is not yet considering a ban on hunting despite the discovery of wild swans infected with bird flu virus in neighbouring Sicily.
The environment ministry, in a press statement yesterday reiterated that Malta was still bird flu-free and the regular monitoring of birds was ongoing.
But Environment Minister George Pullicino would add nothing to his ministry’s statement when asked by MaltaToday whether he was considering a ban on hunting.
The migratory swans found dead in Sicily are known to pass over Malta.
Speaking to MaltaToday, Lino Farrugia, the secretary general of the Federation of Hunters and Conservationists (FKNK) said he was in constant contact with the authorities over the matter.
“We are awaiting directions from the health authorities. We will direct our members accordingly. If the need arises we are ready to adhere to a moratorium on hunting,” Farrugia said.
Part of government’s line of defence is roping in the hunters themselves to take swabs from birds that are shot at sea. The hunting season is currently open for those shooting from sea crafts.
On Tuesday, the hunting federation had a meeting with government veterinary officials during which the hunters were handed over basic equipment for them to take swabs from shot birds.
“I will be distributing the swabs to around 12 hunters on Monday,” Farrugia said. The effort will form part of the wider monitoring programme that also covers chicken farms and ducks in public places.
The bird flu virus was yesterday diagnosed in wild swans found dead in three Italian regions including Sicily.
Italian Health Minister Francesco Storace confirmed the discovery of 17 dead swans in Calabria, Puglia and Sicily with avian flu being diagnosed in the two birds found dead in Sicily.
The Italian authorities have rounded up all domestic birds within a region of one kilometre around the area where the two swans were found dead.
Scientific analysis has shown that the dead birds carried the H5N1 virus, which can be transmitted to humans.
Dead swans carrying the avian flu virus were also discovered in Greece while Romania also reported the discovery of the virus in a chicken farm on the Danube Delta.
The Italian health ministry yesterday sought to quell consumer worries, insisting that the consumption of chicken was safe and there existed no emergency for humans.
The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed at least 80 people since early 2003, mostly in South-East Asia. Italy and Greece are the latest European countries to record the deadly H5N1 virus after Turkey and Romania.
ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt
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