JT>  Thanks for the update on the polyoma virus.  Who do you think NEEDS to
JT>be concerned about the virus?  As I understand it, adult birds can
JT>become carriers, but not infected themselves, so if you have adult birds
JT>who won't be bred then you wouldn't need the vaccine, huh?  Of course,
JT>sometimes pet birds do become breeders eventually.
Well, Dr. Ritchie says that ideally, EVERYONE should vaccinate all their
birds, to eliminate places for the virus to reproduce. If all birds were
vaccinated for at least a few generations, the virus would all but
disappear, much as the smallpox virus has.
But to be more realistic, anybody who ever plans to breed their bird,
thinks their bird may go into a breeding situation someday (after their
death perhaps?), breeds their own birds, has baby birds in their home,
brings birds into their home to birdsit or handfeed--those people should
definitely vaccinate. Anybody who sells babies to pet stores should
vaccinate, to protect the babies from cooties in the stores. Anybody
who runs a store should vaccinate all stock to protect it from cooties
coming INTO the store.
The person with just one bird at home might be able to avoid the
vaccinations. If you are not concerned that your bird might acquire the
virus from your casual contact with other birds in stores, etc., and you
are SURE your bird will never leave your possession, then the single pet
owner can probably get away with not vaccinating. Since the virus is
rarely fatal to adult birds, a pet that acquires it as an adult is in no
danger. It's the birds it may contact later in life that would then be
at risk.
Did this make sense?
--Kathy
 * SLMR 2.1a * Headline: "Coal miners refuse to work after death"
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