KJ>Worst case outcome of this is if they become carriers; best
KJ>case scenario, they just fight it off and become immune. But they CAN
KJ>infected as adults.
>I didn't know birds could become immune.
That's how they found out a vaccine would work--by birds developing
immune system responses to the virus and NOT becoming infected when
exposed again later.
>So they either die (if babies), become carriers or become immune - is
>that right? That's a bit of a silver lining. Do you know which is most
>likely - carrier status or immune?
No, I don't know that part. I suspect MOST babies die. I know that at
this point, we are still considering our survivor babies to be carriers,
even tho we have not re-tested them since placing them in homes. Since
the virus is shed randomly, it's tough to tell if an exposed bird is a
carrier or not without tons of testing.
That's why it will be SO important to have the vaccine--once all birds
are vaccinated, then who cares if a bird is shedding? The vaccinated
ones will all be protected. That's also why isolating brand new babies
carefully until they are old enough to vaccinate is going to be
tremendously important. Until the immune system kicks in and allows for
vaccinating, new babies will still be at risk.
--Kathy
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