Do you believe that it was really necessary to cull such a vast number of turkeys in Suffolk?

Question

I know that it was to prevent the spread of bird flu but surely there is a better solution than just mass slaughter. This happens every time there is a problem with animals or birds and yet when we have an epidemic break out amongst the human population we don't cull them do we! Your comments please.

Answer 1

1. Turkeys are not people. If it can help to save human lives, then sure it's justifiable.
2. It's not just human lives being protected here. A further spread of the bird flu would put the rest of the animals at risk too.
3. In the case of human epidemics of highly contagious and deadly diseases, humans are contained and treated. This isn't possible or feasible with such a large number of turkeys.

Answer 2

When you consider some of the consequences of a H5N1 epidemic amongst the domestic bird population I would agree with the mass cull as a form of containment. Currently many human vaccines, including the seasonal flu jab that your kids and grandparents get each year, are manufactured using millions of eggs a day... I won't explain the process as it's not the right place...

To put it bluntly, if H5N1 was to become widespread in domestic birds then the egg supply to the people who produce vaccines would be limited and hence vaccine production restricted. This would cause a resurgence in other diseases including seasonal flu which is bad enough in itself!

That's just for starters! The other concern is that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has already transferred to humans (mainly in Asia) this is a scary phenomenon. If H5N1 is contracted by someone who already has seasonal flu there is the distinct and real possibility that H5N1 could mutate and become transmittable in the same way as seasonal flu i.e. human to human. It has happened before with tragic consequences... H5N1 is far more deadly than seasonal flu, it causes a very severe immune reaction in the body and effectly makes you drown in your own blood, nice! Oh, and it doesn't just effect the old/young/weak, it is indiscriminate.

Learning from the past is the best way to prepare for the future. Although some people find it sad to kill off an infected flock of turkeys, the potential consequences of not doing so far outways the momentary sadness caused for a couple of days... It wasn't indiscriminate killing after all, it was an infected flock, the numbers dying each day from the flu was increasing rapidly - that's what highlighted the problem in Suffolk in the first place.

Answer 3

I do not believe for an instant that this was just 'MASS SLAUGHTER' I believe we have people (educated people) that are in control of a situation that could very easily turn nasty.
The strain of virus they have found apparently mutates and is transferrable to humans - the people who have culled or actioned the cull on these turkeys have tried to protect us all and on the large scale we have to contemplate wether a rich turkey farmer is going to lose house and home over this or even sleep.
In order to protect the country's best interests- a decision was made and I personally stand by it!
Think of how you would feel if this cull hadn't taken place and every infant in Suffolk lost their lives because the government employees had been too sentimental or under-educated.
I believe we all understand the necessity of such a cull and hope that suffolk is granted all safeguards against there being any chance of repercussion.

Answer 4

These turkeys live short lives and are slaughtered en-mass anyway to provide cheap, mostly processed, meat. Only turkeys on one farm were killed - hardley a mass cull.

There are no abatoirs currently in Suffolk, Planning permission has just been given to one in Eye.
Poulty are not normally killed at abatoirs, but on the farms/factories by hanging by them on a sort of conveyor that breaks their neck.

How it got into an enclosed shed is a mystery, but killing them quickly to stop it spreading to wild birds and other comercial units is a good idea. There are many poultry farms and important bird reserves nearby, eg Minsmere, which despite tests throughout the winter has shown no evidence of bird flu. Also there are flocks of wild chickens, look up Ditchingham chickens, and many small holder permaculturists etc

Answer 5

It may not be necessary but we don't know - dead birds tell no tales. It is a safe solution and the birds are going to be killed anyhow - its just a bit early. We don't cull the humans because we are the race in control but we do try and find vaccines and cures for human diseases and some of these efforts cost a big wedge.

Answer 6

Sadly yes. The Government has to put public health and safety first, which means by default placing an empahisis on containment and control, and not putting trust in company systems that have failed allowing the infection in the first instance.

It would have been much nicer to cull just one shed - but could they really have trusted to what BM were telling them - BM said that there was absolutely no link to Hungry - now it appears that's where this all started.

Answer 7

I think it was a cruel and horrible mass killing. I do understand the economic logic of it but I do not agree that economic logic should prevail in these situations.

Even the bird flu is nature's way. And, nature will prevail. Natural selection among the human population has been undone by human medical advances, nature has to find a way to thin out our human herds. Look at the marvelously clever method of spreading deadly disease amongst us that nature has come up with in the past 30 years. Yet we blunder along, trying to manipulate nature.

One of these days this planet is going to shake us off like a bad cold and mother nature is going to disinfect the planet when that happens. And, rightly so.

Answer 8

They had to, if it spread then Bernard Matthews would be no more. They had to make out they were doing their best to get rid of any sign of disease. The turkeys were going to be killed anyway, so either way the turkeys lose.

Bernard Mathews were thinking about their public image. To associate them with bird flu would be the end of them.

Answer 9

With or without "Bird flu"they would have been slaughtered in a few weeks anyway.So at least this way they get to drive the 200 miles across the country to be incinerated offering the best chance of spreading disease as widely as possible.
BEAUTIFULL REALLY BEAUTIFULL

Answer 10

Yes I do believe it is neccessary. We run the risk of a pandemic otherwise and an agricultural crisis which will make the BSE one look like a walk in the flippin' park. Obviously it isn't your livelihood or health at risk.

However, if you want to equate turkey rights to human rights then why dont we give them all a council house, free medical care and £60 a month benefit for every egg they lay too?

C'mon.