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The Compass: It’s a Bird’s World: It’s a Bird's World: Viruses and infection

Factual

It’s a birds’ world: Viruses and infection

23/02/2022 GMT

It’s a Bird's World: Viruses and infection

It’s a Bird’s World

BBC World Service - The Compass, It’s a Bird’s World, It’s a Bird's World: Viruses and infection

How water birds, poultry, jays and sage grouse have alerted us to the spread of diseases

How water birds, poultry, jays and sage grouse have alerted us to the spread of diseases which affect them and us.

Just like us, birds can become infected with viruses – and some of these can be transferred to us. As we’ve seen with the coronavirus pandemic, there are real challenges when it comes to controlling the spread of viral infections. Any attempt to try and stay one step ahead of a virus requires really good monitoring, especially as many birds travel long distances and migrate. Birds are invaluable as sentinels in our attempt to map and control the spread of infection. In this episode we look at how water birds, poultry, jays and sage grouse have alerted us to the spread of diseases which affect them and us in the environment.

(Photo: A chicken)

The Compass: It’s a Bird’s World

How birds have alerted us to environmental changes

Remarkable stories of how birds have alerted us to environmental changes, and what the implications are for us and them.

Remarkable stories of how birds have alerted us to environmental changes, and what the implications are for us and them. Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl) presents a series of compelling global stories which reveal how birds, as barometers of the health of the planet, are sirens of climate change, toxic substances, disease and noise pollution.

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