Kim Chee for the Birds

I just now heard an item on the BBC International Service reporting that some South Korean scientists of respectable reputation believe that Kim Chee may possibly have played a role in the recovery of 11 of 13 chickens infected by Asian Bird Flu, which I believe is usually bane to chickens and its crossover to humans feared. I was not paying attention when the report began, so I am not sure whether the chickens were part of a study or just a baker's dozen of sick chickens seen observed walking around. (I may not have heard the story right, but as Dave Barry would say, "I am not making this up.")

No specific recipe was credited with the cure, so none of the members of this group who have contributed Kim Chee recipes is yet in a position to "crow" about their accomplishment, or should that be "cackle" about it. (That raises another question for potential discussion here: Although crows and chickens are both birds, and some persons are said to "eat crow," should a crow be considered to be "poultry," or is it better buttigned to the "game" category unless domesticated like the chicken?)

I did not hear anything said about the scientists claiming that Kim Chee might protect against the disease being transferred to humans. It did say, however, that since the outbreak of SARS in China, Korean restaurants in China were having trouble supplying enough Kim Chee to meet customer demand there.