Bird Flu/Another Reason to Ban Cock Fighting in New Mexico

As a veterinarian I am acutely aware of the fragility of our natural world. I served two terms as a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.

I recently attended a meeting in Las Cruces that was entitled Emerging Threats Preparedness Seminar. One of the most important presentations was on avian influenza (Bird Flu) which represents a real and potentially catastrophic threat to our citizens, wildlife, and poultry producers in New Mexico and our country. The seminars were hosted by the New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association, the UNM Center for Disaster Medicine, Southwest Center for Public Health Preparedness, and the New Mexico Livestock Board.

Kerry Mower, from the New Mexico Game and Fish Department presented the Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) surveillance in New Mexico Wildlife. Other presenters included: Dr. Paul Ettestad, State Epidemiologist in the New Mexico Department of Health, who talked about the anatomy and physiology of the public health system in New Mexico; Dr. Michael Greenlee from the USDA-APHIS who discussed regulatory programs and current concerns in New Mexico; and Kerry Mower, from the New Mexico Game and Fish Department, who also talked about wildlife law for veterinarians.





So what does this Avian Influenza have to do with cock fighting? Fighting cocks are imported from Asia, where this disease is prevalent, to Mexico. Then the birds are illegally imported from Mexico into New Mexico. Now these birds could introduce bird flu here, a disaster to our wild and domesticated birds, and potentially to our citizens.

We do not want to be the state introducing Bird Flu to America. Banning cock fighting in New Mexico, one of two states in the entire country that still allows this practice, is imperative.