Seagulls 'may be spreading superbugs'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11374536

Scientists fear migratory birds may be spreading hard-to-treat infections after discovering seagulls can carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Portuguese researchers analysed 57 samples of droppings from the yellow-legged Caspian Gull Larus Cachinnans.
They found that one in 10 harboured bacteria resistant to a common antibiotic called vancomycin.

And the scientists believe wild migratory birds may be spreading antibiotic resistance from place to place, and to other animals and humans through their droppings.
Dr Igrejas said: "Migrating birds that fly and travel long distances can act as transporters, or as reservoirs, of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and may consequently have a significant epidemiological role in the dissemination of resistance."

I've been to viewing sea gulls in the same light as wild rats and pigeons a long while..vermin.

Mind if we were better at clearing up our own rubbish and mess this would not be a problem.

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

... if we were better at clearing up our own rubbish and mess ...

Exactly. For example, we still dump raw sewage into the sea.

This has led to faeces and other sewage-related materials being deposited on beach foreshores and in rivers.

http://www.marinet.org.uk/ukbw/cso.html

[LondonRoad]

I hope certain CFers don't spot that it's migratory birds that could cause the problem.

"Bloody Larus Cachinnans, come over here with their own culture, bleeding our rubbing dumps dry.... etc"

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

...Larus Cachinnans...

The literal translation is "ravenous sea bird that laughs loudly". Quite a good description!

http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase/wordsonline.html

[Caff]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

The literal translation is "ravenous sea bird that laughs loudly". Quite a good description!

http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/showcase/wordsonline.html

I always wondered why their call was so appealing It sounds like heaven to me.

Jersey... absolute huge, smart and relentless monsters - and don't scoff until you've experienced it
They keep a pace with the times I guess... and I don't feed them intentionally - they do pretty well by themselves but I'm not expecting to die of a bird-ridden disease just because they pinched my sarnie or someone else's ice cream

Don't let them frighten the kids I'd say

I must admit to being a bit bothered by Hitchcock's Birds but more so by the original novel