You will recall that I warned that smuggled fowl parts from China could introduce Bird Flu into the other countries in which Chinese restaurants serve patrons, including the United States. Gasp, that has happened in the US in June and is just now being reported on July 13TH! So, take care. This probably was not the FIRST or the LAST smuggled fowl meat from China, so be sure to wash all poultry products with a disinfectant when you bring it home from the market! You may contact me for further clues on how to protect yourself and your loved ones. "We have met the enemy and he is us." (http://www.nauticom.net/www/chuckm/whmte.htm) Ann* -----Original Message----- From: owner-promed-ahead@promed.isid.harvard.edu [mailto:owner-promed-ahead@promed.isid.harvard.edu]On Behalf Of ProMED-mail Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 11:09 AM To: promed-ahead@promedmail.org Subject: PRO/AH> Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (31) AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTRY VS MIGRATORY BIRDS (31) **************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases [1] Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 From: David G Sweet Source: Free Press, 12 Jul 2006 [edited] State and federal authorities are trying to track down a cache of frozen poultry smuggled into the United States and metro Detroit from areas in China where avian flu is prevalent, state officials said Tues [11 Jul 2006]. They said consumers probably have eaten some of the meat and should be concerned but not alarmed. Proper cooking destroys the deadly virus. The frozen poultry -- geese, ducks and chickens with intestines still intact -- was purchased by the owner of a warehouse in Troy, which supplies 300 Chinese restaurants and Asian grocery stories throughout southeast Michigan, state authorities said. They said the owner has disappeared and is facing possible criminal charges. Federal officials, who could not be reached for comment, learned of the problem in early June and alerted state officials around 22 Jun 2006, Michigan Department of Agriculture officials said. They said they didn't know whether any carcasses were contaminated with the virus, which has killed 129 people worldwide since 2003. Federal officials apparently destroyed birds seized from the warehouse 27 Jun 2006 before the meat could be tested, prompting Michigan officials to complain. On 5 and 6 Jul 2006, state and federal officials seized 1600 pounds of meat from the warehouse. It too was destroyed without testing, prompting requests from some state officials that all future meat seizures be tested. It was unclear why agents made 2 seizures at the property. Although the virus, which lives in the birds' intestines, can survive indefinitely in frozen poultry, it is killed when meat is thoroughly cooked. Food preparation surfaces and utensils should be disinfected with soap or bleach and hands should be washed to prevent the spread of any virus. "We are treating it seriously and looking to see where the material might have gone," said Brad Deacon, emergency management coordinator for the state Agriculture Department. Deacon said the state obtained a list of the company's customers and is sending inspectors to each one to collect paperwork and seize potentially tainted poultry. "Hopefully it will test negative and we can reassure the public that the food supply is safe and the public health is protected," Deacon said. Chinese-grown poultry is banned in the United States because of fear it could spread diseases. "One of the reasons we haven't been public is because it's the USDA's investigation," Deacon said, referring to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "The delicate balance of food safety is trying to let people know about threats and risks without unduly scaring them." Deacon said federal officials told him that the owner of the warehouse has disappeared. It's unclear when or how the poultry was smuggled into the United States. Some of it is believed to have been intercepted at a port in New Jersey. Deacon said some of the poultry that wound up in Michigan had been labeled as frozen tilapia fish or labeled only in Chinese, apparently to avoid detection. The Free Press learned about the search from e-mails that Deacon sent 23 Jun 2006 and Mon [10 Jul 2006] to members of the state's working group on avian flu. When the Free Press called Deacon, he confirmed that officials are searching for the poultry. The e-mails said the state had alerted health officials in Detroit and in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. The Macomb health department got a heads-up about possible smuggled meat, said county spokesman Phil Frame. But Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and county health officials said they knew nothing about it. "Unfortunately, they're keeping the locals in the dark," Patterson said. Richard Fulton, a Michigan State University professor of avian diseases and a member of the avian flu working group, cautioned consumers not to overreact. "It's something to be concerned about, but not to be alarmed about," he said. "It's very important to know that this virus can be killed by plain old soap and water, any type of disinfectant or household bleach. If it's in food that is cooked to the proper temperatures, it will die." Because of the U.S. ban on Chinese poultry, the U.S. government seized 165 000 pounds of Asian poultry last fall, according to the USDA. No bird flu virus was found in the prohibited poultry, which included frozen chickens, ducks, pigeons and poultry parts. [Byline: David Ashenfelter and Tina Lam] -- David G. Sweet, CBCP TCF Bank-MI-Business Continuity Information Security, Records Retention [Illegal international trade in animal products, particularly meat, is a matter of worldwide concern. On top of its possible origin in infected farms and in illegal slaughterhouses without veterinary inspection nor certification, smuggled meat is, most probably, transported in poor hygienic conditions and without proper refrigeration. Smuggled meat poses a serious risk to the health of animals and humans. Avian influenza is just one of the many disease agents which may be transmitted by such products. Transportation (by sea, air?) of the slaughtered birds with intestines still intact is extremely unhygienic. Chinese poultry meat and organs, such as chicken legs, seem to have a significant demand and attractive prices in receptive markets, probably mainly for sale in ethnic restaurants. A recent example was a consignment of poultry meat smuggled from China, which was confiscated in Taiwan in October 2005 and found contaminated with the H5N1 virus. - Mod.AS] ****** [2] Date: Thu 13 Jul 2006 12:12 AM From: Mary Marshall Source: WoodTV.com [edited] A warning is out Wednesday night after chickens were found smuggled from China, a nation that has been hit hard by the bird flu. Officials said they have found no evidence of contaminated food after a tip from a restaurant owner near Flint. That tip led authorities to a warehouse south of there in Oakland County, where they found the poultry smuggled into the US. State and Federal investigators raided the Tinsway Company in Oakland County 3 times in the last 5 weeks, confiscating over 2000 pounds of meat and other improperly labeled food. The US Department of Agriculture conducted the 1st raid but did not tell state officials for several weeks. That bothers members of the Oakland County Health Department, who happened to be taking part in bio-terrorism training Wednesday 24-Hour News 8's sister station in Detroit tried and failed to get an explanation from company employees. State investigators believe the owner, who also owns some restaurants, is out of the country. Meanwhile, the warehouse is still in business. "We are making absolutely sure that we have appropriate evidence and statutory violations in order to take appropriate action," said Katherine Fedder of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. State inspectors are still getting a complete list of the restaurants supplied by the company but they say a preliminary check shows none of the meat is turning up in restaurants. Even if it did, the risk to the public is low. "Making sure that it is cooked thoroughly, that takes care of any bacteria and any bird flu concerns that might be there," said Fedder. Investigators think security was breached in New York or New Jersey. State officials say Michigan consumers may have eaten some of the meat. 24 Hour News 8 contacted West Michigan Health Departments. They still haven't released the list to tell us if any restaurants or stores here are affected. -- ProMED-mail [A Reuters report adds little new to the above, except that the 2000 lbs poultry shipment was labelled as tilapia. - Mod.MHJ] [see also: Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (30) 20060621.1711 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (29) 20060619.1695 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (28) 20060615.1659 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (27) 20060607.1585 Avian Influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (26) 20060606.1574 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (25) 20060606.1571 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (24) 20060605.1567 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (23) 20060602.1541 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (22) 20060531.1522 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (21) 20060522.14461 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (20) 20060518.1396 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (19) 20060512.1350 Avian influenza, poultry vs. migratory birds (18) 20060504.1289 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (17) 20060502.1273 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (16) 20060501.1264 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (15) 20060429.1240 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (14) 20060422.1176 Avian influenza, poultry vs. migratory birds (13) 20060414.1114 Avian influenza - poultry vs. migratory birds (12) 20060413.1099 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (11) 20060412.1088 Avian influenza - worldwide (76): migratory birds, OIE 20060402.0995 Avian influenza - worldwide (68): migratory birds, OIE 20060328.0940 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (10) 20060324.0907 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (09) 20060320.0867 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (08) 20060309.0749 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (07) 20060305.0721 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (06) 20060303.0670 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (05) 20060228.0645 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (04) 20060227.0638 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (03) 20060222.0578 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds (02) 20060218.0536 Avian influenza, poultry vs migratory birds 20060217.0516 2005 ---- Avian influenza - Eurasia (25): Taiwan ex China 20051022.3085 Avian influenza - Eastern Asia (71): H5N1, duck meat, 2003 20050714.2008] ...............arn/mhj/pg/dk *##########################################################* ************************************************************ ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. 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