Mr. Hepworth participated in his capacity as convenor of the Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza which comprises 13 UN, treaty and NGO bodies. He traced the history of AI and demonstrated how the role of migratory birds - although probably significant in the recent spread to parts of Europe – has been grossly exaggerated in the media, for example through misleading maps when in fact there is no real evidence that AI has spread systematically along major migratory flyways. Much of the media has remained strangely silent about the extensive global and local movement of live poultry products which are crucial in transmitting the virus. Infected captive birds and human movements provide two other transmission routes.

Another issue emphasised by the CMS Executive Secretary was the very slow rate of H5N1 penetration in Africa, despite its crucial position on North-South flyways, which may be explained by the reduced levels of intensive poultry farming in much of the region. Mr Hepworth drew attention to the dangers of culling wild birds or reducing natural wetland habitats. Quite apart from the damage to conservation, both measures would be counter-productive: culling would encourage potentially diseased birds to scatter and increase human risks, whilst reducing wetlands would force wild birds to share areas also used by domestic poultry, again increasing the risks of spreading AI.

In a further statement, Mr. Hepworth emphasized the need to intensify research activities: “In order to fight the epidemic effectively, the virus behaviour in waterbirds needs to be further investigated. Monitoring the prevalence of HPAI in wild birds is also necessary. In addition, the transmission from wild birds to domestic flocks and vice versa requires further clarification.”

CMS, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and AEWA adopted resolutions on avian influenza during their Conference of the Parties in late 2005. Solutions include tackling unsustainable and unhygienic poultry husbandry practices; developing higher standards and new biosecurity measures; reducing the interface between wild water fowl and domestic fowl and improved surveillance of the virus in wild birds, as well as national action plans and public awareness programmes. “There is an impact of avian influenza on Europe's biodiversity. A number of threatened Eurasian migratory birds are at particular risk from avian influenza. By endorsing these resolutions, more than 120 governments have supported the agenda developed by the Scientific Task Force”, concluded Mr. Hepworth. “We will continue to help the world to understand and manage the risks associated with Avian influenza, and ensure that the voice of conservation science is clearly heard.”