05-10-06 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 10, 2006 year they conducted round ups for 42 cities in the Metro area. He also felt that more cities are looking to do round ups given the avian flu threat. Elvie Day, Lakeshore Avenue, questioned Dr. Cooper on the transmission of avian flu indicating it was her understanding it was transmitted through the handling of dead carcasses rather than bird droppings. Cooper replied that it is transmitted through both. Bird to bird transmission occurs through droppings as the virus is shed in animal droppings. Cooper reported that the avian flu has been spreading across the world aC a very rapid pace. The major transmission mechanism is migratory birds. Day asked how many people have died from the avian flu. Cooper replied that less than 200 have died, buC noted that just like the West Nile virus, there is the potential for an exponential growth rate and spread of the virus. Day stated that the potential for spread was in living in close contact with farm animals. Cooper replied that in Europe the spread is occurring via migratory birds. He also noted that the virus could either kill off the goose population or they will have a resistance but will carry and spread the virus. IC is most likely that they will have a high resistance, but will be carriers. Day did not feel the problem was as big as Cooper was suggesting. Cooper felt that there is a mistake in trying to manage a problem after it occurs, and felt that keeping the population down was a good proactive approach. Cooper stated that it was his professional opinion that we need to be very concerned about avian flu in the Canada goose population. This concern is shared by epidemiologists. Once the virus mutates and can be passed from human to human, the mortality rate will be very high. Cooper felt that there should be some plans and thoughts for dealing with the issue, and maintaining the goose population at a reasonably low level is a step in the right direction. Keis stated thaC his concerns abouC the goose population also had to do with livability and control of the population. Day felt there was some hysteria around the issue and suggested that a winter kill would be less disruptive on goose families. Cooper pointed out that the goose is a migratory bird and there is less than 10% of the population in the Twin Cities during the winter months. Day asked if there was a more civilized way of managing the population. Cooper replied that there have been a number of methods proposed, but they are non-effective. Cooper pointed out the history of native people in