And NZ Geographic’s weighing in also with “the scenario we’ve been dreading”, pumping the ‘next one’ with words like ‘deadly’, ‘devastating’, ‘decimating’, ‘horrendous’ and ‘soul destroying’. Carefully selected words are really important in terms of mind control. Inciting fear with the white head-to-toe hazard suits with folk back wearing masks again... wake up people … EWNZ

RCR Radio

Former WHO scientist calls bird flu panic ‘classic hysteria’

A single brown skua found on Petone Beach has triggered a wall of official messaging with a  government campaign urging New Zealanders “Don’t let bird flu take flight” and “Bird flu: Be ready,” and legacy media warning readers to “know the signs” of what it called a “highly contagious and deadly strain.”

The reality, according to our officials’ own briefing, is more measured. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard confirmed the skua was found on 10 July and tested positive three days later. It was an isolated detection in an ocean-going seabird, with no evidence of transmission among wild birds or infection in poultry. “It is not a human health issue,” Hoggard said. “There’s not some sudden change to Defcon 2 or something like that tomorrow.”

Former WHO scientist David Bell described the broader H5N1 response as “classic hysteria.” Speaking to RCR’s Paul Brennan earlier this month, Bell said the virus had circulated naturally for millions of years and caused only about 500 recorded deaths worldwide over 25 years, with “no sustained human transmission anywhere”.

Bell also rejected claims of a 50% mortality rate, saying the figure reflected only the sickest hospitalised patients. He criticised plans to vaccinate native birds, arguing the vaccines were neither long-lasting nor transmission-blocking.

Meanwhile, University of Auckland biologist Dianne Brunton warned H5N1 could devastate slow-breeding native birds and the Department of Conservation began vaccinating five endangered species, including kakapo and takahe.

As of yesterday, a second case has been confirmed: a kāhu (swamp harrier) in the Wairarapa, likely infected while scavenging. The Government says it will ramp up surveillance and offer biosecurity support to poultry operations in the region.

See the NZH bird flu topic page and MPI briefing. Listen or watch David Bell’s full interview on RCR and read Clare Swinney on WordPress. For those questioning the scientific basis of the bird flu narrative, Dr Sam Bailey breaks down the evidence in Avian Flu: Not a Glimmer of Proof.

Image by Sean Corcoran from Pixabay