Cooped up: Morry Iacovella with feathered friends.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG’S Australian Animal Health Laboratory is testing a virus that prompted a ban on racing pigeons in the region, according to a Department of Primary Industry spokesman.
“We’re working with AAHL where the birds are tested to see if they have the virus,” the spokesman said.
He revealed the department had applied to federal authorities for permission to import a vaccine to treat the pigeon population.
A department order has banned all local pigeon and homing club activity.
Geelong City Homing Club’s Morry Iacovella said it was the first time the virus had entered Australia.
“Everything is at a standstill. There’s no movement of birds unless you have weekly vet checks and reports to DPI.
“I haven’t been able to use my white doves and pigeons for weddings. People have been disappointed but I just can’t do it.
“Even though there are no local cases yet we’re not allowed to take the birds off the property.
“It has shut down all the competitions, racing events and bird showing.”
Mr Iacovella feared the ban could send people out of the sport.
“People are being negative about it, especially if they face the extra expense of treatment.
“It could be an expensive process to treat all our birds. This virus is here to stay, I believe.”
Mr Iacovella said paramyxovirus, or PMV1, affected birds’ brains and had a high mortality rate.
“Not everyone who has pigeons is involved with a club and they might not even know.
“There are still people selling pigeons in classified advertisements.”
Australia’s chief vet Dr Mark Schipp said he was worried the deadly pigeon virus could mutate to chickens.
Authorities believed the virus was introduced to Australia last year through smuggled pigeons, he said.
“How long it would take to adapt to other species of bird is very difficult to determine and we’ve commenced work in a laboratory setting to look into that.”
The DPI spokesperson said the disease was so far restricted to hobby and feral pigeons.
“Virulent strains of paramyxovirus are capable of infecting poultry. However, evidence suggests chickens are not susceptible to the specific strain circulating.”
