THE CANADIAN PRESS
Several poultry farms in B.C.'s Fraser Valley are under quarantine as officials investigate a possible outbreak of avian influenza.
B.C. Poultry Association spokesman Calvin Bruekelman says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency imposed the quarantine on farms within a three-kilometre radius of one turkey producer in Abbotsford, B.C. He says tests are underway after antibodies for avian flu were found in some 12-week-old turkeys at E&H Farms.
The affected farm has 50,000 turkeys and Bruekelman says further blood work from the flock is being processed at the CFIA lab in Winnipeg, with results expected in the next 24 hours.
If confirmed, this would not be the first outbreak of avian flu among B.C. poultry producers. Seventeen million birds were slaughtered in the Fraser Valley in February of 2004 following an outbreak of the H7N3 version of the disease, a different strain from deadly H5N1 version linked to deaths and illnesses in Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Europe.http://www.mytelus.com/ncp_news/arti...icleID=3065013
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Early testing suggests possible H5 avian influenza outbreak on B.C. farm: CFIA
13 minutes ago
By The Canadian Press
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it is investigating the possibility of an H5 avian influenza outbreak on a turkey farm in B.C.'s Fraser Valley.
Agency spokesperson Monika Mazur says testing done at the B.C. provincial laboratory suggests the presence of an H5 virus but more tests are being done for confirmation at CFIA's national laboratory in Winnipeg.
Mazur says it's not yet known if the virus is of a high or low pathogenic strain and further testing must be done to determine what the virus's N or neuraminidase type is.
Mazur says the initial testing was done after turkeys on a 50,000 bird farm showed signs of respiratory distress.
Several farms within a three-kilometre radius of the turkey producer in Abbotsford, B.C., have been placed under the quarantine.
Mazur says the CFIA is informing the World Organization for Animal Health. Any outbreak of avian influenza involving H5 or H7 strains must be reported to the Paris-based organization.
The presence of H5 virus, if it is confirmed, does not mean there is an outbreak with the H5N1 virus that has killed nearly 250 people in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.
There are multiple subtypes of H5 avian flu. In fact, the Fraser Valley experienced an H5N2 outbreak in November 2005.
B.C. Poultry Association spokesman Calvin Bruekelman says blood samples from the birds at E&H Farms tested positive for avian flu antibodies.
"That doesn't necessarily mean they're diseased with it," Bruekelman says. "It could be that they just have antibodies in the blood."
"There's nothing to be concerned about at this point," Bruekelman added, pointing out tests were expected back as soon as Friday. "Then we'll know for sure. If we need to act on it then we we'll have to depopulate the flock."
He said the quarantine was in place simply as a precaution.
Seventeen million birds were slaughtered in the Fraser Valley in February 2004 following an outbreak of H7N3, a different avian influenza subtype.
By By AMY O'BRIAN, Vancouver SunJanuary 23, 2009 11:34 AM
Bio-hazard clad workers clean barn that contained chickens in April 2004 outbreak of avian flu in the Fraser Valley.
Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun FilesMETRO VANCOUVER - Poultry farms within a three-kilometre radius of a large turkey farm in Abbotsford are under quarantine as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigates a possible outbreak of avian flu.
About 23 farmers in the area are awaiting test results, which are expected later today, to confirm or deny the re-appearance of avian flu in the Fraser Valley.
An outbreak in 2004 resulted in the cull of about 17 million birds in the region.
It was the largest animal cull in Canadian history.
No one from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was immediately available for comment this morning, but Ray Nickel, chair of the B.C. Poultry Association said test results are expected back from a lab in Winnipeg later today.
Nickel said the quarantine was put in place late Wednesday, and prevents farms from moving any product until it’s tested and cleared.
He said the turkey farm at the centre of the quarantine has about 50,000 birds and is larger than most.
"The producer in question had some birds he was concerned about, respiratory-wise. The tests came back that they found a suspect (Avian influenza.)"
Nickel said the CFIA and the poultry farms in the valley have been working well together, following proper procedures and protocol.
He said there is no risk to humans and that the poultry and eggs on store shelves at this time is safe to eat.
"This has nothing to do with human health or product contamination. It is only about bird infections.”
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
23 B.C. farms quarantined
Officials testing for Avian influenza
By Becky Rynor, Canwest News ServiceJanuary 23, 2009 11:40 AM
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quarantined one turkey farm in B.C. and has put a 'restriction movement' order on a number of others within a three kilometre circle of the suspect farm.
Photograph by: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver SunApproximately 23 farms in the Abbotsford area have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing testing after a possible case of Avian influenza may have been detected, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday.
"We are investigating the possibility that an H5 Avian influenza strain is present at a commercial poultry operation in the Fraser Valley," said a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Monika Mazur said samples were submitted to a provincial lab "after some respiratory problems were observed in the flock" of one farm in the Abbotsford area.
She said those samples are now with a CFIA-accredited lab in Winnipeg for additional testing and confirmation.
"Depending on the sample quality, the initial results regarding the confirmation of the H5 could be expected as early as (Friday,)" she said.
As a precaution, that farm and an adjacent poultry operation, involving about 50,000 birds, have been placed under quarantine as well as all farms within a three-kilometre radius of the suspect farm. She did not know how many of those farms were also poultry operations.
The president of the B.C. Poultry Association, Ray Nickel said "the other surrounding farms will be allowed to move product, do their normal business subject to a test that shows their flocks are clean."
Nickel said "this has nothing to do with human health or product contamination. It is only about bird infections."
However, he said it brings back some bad memories of an Avian influenza outbreak in 2004 when a "highly pathogenetic" H7N3 strain of the disease broke out and millions of birds had to be destroyed.
According to the CFIA website, Avian influenza, or AI, is a contagious viral infection caused by the influenza virus Type "A", which can affect several species of food producing birds, pet birds and wild birds. The viruses can be classified as low pathogenic and high pathogenic forms based on the severity of the illness in the birds.
Mazur said "human illness caused by Avian influenza is rare, unless the humans have been in close contact with infected birds."
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
The Source and Means of Spread of the Avian Influenza Virus in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia During an Outbreak in the Winter of 2004An Interim Report February 15, 2005
Dr. Christine Power
Animal Disease Surveillance Unit
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
[emphasis added]
Executive Summary
During the winter and spring of 2004, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Over a three month period, approximately 13.6 million commercial poultry and 18 thousand backyard birds were destroyed as part of disease control measures implemented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Most of the commercial poultry were broilers from uninfected flocks and went directly to slaughter at maturity to be used for human consumption. While 42 commercial operations were found infected, constituting 5% of the operations in the Valley, a wider cull of 410 non infected poultry flocks took place which affected more than half of the producers in the region. The economic impact of this outbreak on the livelihoods of British Columbia (BC) poultry producers and the associated support industries was severe and recovery is expected to be protracted. Fortunately, the avian influenza subtype causing disease in the region had minimal effects on persons living in the area or those working directly with infected poultry. Only two confirmed cases of mild conjunctivitis were reported in disease control workers directly in contact with infected birds over the outbreak time span.
The outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (H7N3) is thought to be caused by a mutation from a low pathogenicity avian influenza strain. The low pathogenicity virus circulated in one barn of an Abbotsford broiler breeder flock and became highly pathogenic as it moved to an adjacent flock on the same premises. Once a flock becomes infected with a high pathogenicity strain, sufficient virus is shed into the localized environment to make biocontainment difficult. The disease spread quickly in the Abbotsford area for two main reasons. Many flocks were not protected by acceptable on- farm biosecurity practices and with regular traffic on farms, transfer of dust from contaminated premises was made possible leading to disease transmission to these flocks. A second reason for the rapid spread of disease from flock to flock is thought to be through aerosolized dust emitted from poultry barns. The opportunity for air exchange between barns was highest in the poultry farm dense areas of the Lower Fraser Valley where barns were within several hundred metres of one another. The Agency, along with other stakeholders, may have contributed passively to the spread of avian influenza in the Lower Fraser Valley due to the time between detection of disease and the destruction and disposal of infected birds. The processes of disease detection, flock euthanasia and carcass disposal required significant human and material resource acquisition, inter department dialogue and problem solving, logistical planning, and communications in order to be implemented on the short notice demanded by the crisis.
The biggest vulnerabilities of the British Columbia poultry industry which contributed to this outbreak were the low level of biosecurity practised by some poultry sectors coupled with the very high density of poultry farms in the region. To address these weaknesses, all BC poultry sectors should develop and encourage their producers to implement comprehensive biosecurity programs. These programs should be established according to principles practised by Canadian poultry breeders of high security primary and multiplier flocks. The current evidence for the potential for windborne dispersal of avian influenza suggests that development of an air inlet filtration system for barns would be prudent in the event of a second outbreak. Municipal bylaws for land use could be reviewed in light of the outbreak with a view to restricting permits for new commercial operations when deemed too close to existing farms.
OTTAWA, June 6, 2008 – The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health of Canada's domestic poultry flocks from avian influenza (AI) viruses. That is why this Government is enhancing its AI surveillance for commercial poultry flocks in Canada.
This program is one of a number of domestic and international initiatives that have been implemented to prevent, detect and eliminate the presence of harmful AI viruses in Canada's domestic poultry flock. The expanded program was developed in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, poultry farmers and other industry representatives.
The enhanced Canadian Notifiable Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) has been designed to meet current guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and new requirements from the European Union that take effect in January 2009. The system will provide information about NAI viruses in Canada's domestic poultry flocks that will be required for Canadian poultry farmers and processors to continue doing business internationally.
While most AI viruses pose little or no animal health risk, two subtypes, known as H5 and H7, may lead to serious illness in birds. CanNAISS testing will identify poultry farms where these viruses may be present and enable the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and farmers to control potential disease spread.
More information about CanNAISS will be made available on the CFIA Web site as the implementation details are finalized.
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Birds tested for avian influenza in Western Canada
23 Jan 2009 21:07:23 GMT
Source: Reuters
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Canadian authorities investigated a possible outbreak of avian influenza in British Columbia on Friday after signs of the disease were found in several turkeys.
A precautionary quarantine was placed on poultry farms within 3 km (2 miles) of a farm east of Vancouver while tests are conducted to determine if the birds have the disease, a spokeswoman for the Canada Food Inspection Agency said.
"We have not confirmed anything. We're still awaiting the test results," Monika Mazur said.
The initial test results could be ready by late Friday, although it could be a couple more days before all the results are known, Mazur said.
The testing was conducted after the turkey farm discovered respiratory illnesses in its flock.
The farm is in the Fraser River valley, an area where most of British Columbia's poultry production is located. The area has had outbreaks of bird flu before, the largest of which required several million birds to be culled in 2004.
Nearly all poultry raised in the area is produced for the local domestic market. (Reporting Allan Dowd, editing by Rob Wilson)
Bird flu outbreak feared in Abbotsford
AMY O'BRIAN, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, January 23, 2009
METRO VANCOUVER -
METRO VANCOUVER - Poultry farms within a three-kilometre radius of a large turkey farm in Abbotsford are under quarantine as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigates a possible outbreak of avian flu.
Farmers at more than 20 commercial farms in the area are awaiting test results, which are expected later today, to confirm or deny the re-appearance of avian flu in the Fraser Valley.
No one from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was available for comment this morning, but Ray Nickel, of the B.C. Poultry Association, said test results are expected back from a lab in Winnipeg later today.
Nickel said the quarantine was put in place late Wednesday, and prevents farms from moving any product until it's tested and cleared.
He said the turkey farm at the centre of the quarantine has about 50,000 birds and is larger than most.
It has been identified as E & H Farms on Lefeuvre Road.
Dr. Perry Kendall, provincial health officer, said even if the test does come back positive it is very unlikely the flu strain will be of the Asian variety, which has been responsible for more than 250 human deaths over the past five years.
"I would bet strongly against it being the Asian strain," Kendall said. "We've never had that strain in North America."
Kendall said there was minimal avian flu activity last season, but it has re-surfaced this season in China, Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam and Cambodia.
After the 2004 avian flu outbreak in B.C., Kendall said it was luck that prevented the flu from spreading to pigs and humans.
But he said Friday that the public health protocols and procedures have been improved since then. If test results come back positive, Kendall said the birds at the farm will likely be culled.
He said two barns of birds are possibly affected.
Kendall said only one worker at the farm will have to undergo anti-viral treatment if the test comes back positive.
There is no risk to the general population, he said.
Nickel said the CFIA and the poultry farms in the valley have been working well together, following proper procedures and protocol.
He said there is no risk to humans and that the poultry and eggs on store shelves at this time is safe to eat. Liz Bicknell, spokeswoman with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, said the farm in question has been diligent about biosecurity.
"This particular farm we're dealing with right now, their biosecurity measures are impeccable - they are very, very high," Bicknell said.
An outbreak in 2004 resulted in the cull of about 17 million birds in the region.
It was the largest animal cull in Canadian history.
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Quote:
Originally Posted by niman
Most don't cause symptoms.
Isn't one of the symptoms "death"?
An outbreak of H5N2 in Taiwan late 2008-
"...The first suspected case of avian flu surfaced Oct. 21 when several hundred chickens on a farm in southern Kaohsiung County's Luchu Township died from unknown causes. In addition to immediately quarantining the site, all 76 poultry farms within a radius of three kilometers were disinfected and placed under observation.."
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Quote:
Originally Posted by Florida1
Isn't one of the symptoms "death"?
An outbreak of H5N2 in Taiwan late 2008-
"...The first suspected case of avian flu surfaced Oct. 21 when several hundred chickens on a farm in southern Kaohsiung County's Luchu Township died from unknown causes. In addition to immediately quarantining the site, all 76 poultry farms within a radius of three kilometers were disinfected and placed under observation.."
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
B.C. turkey farm quarantined
Other farms tested amid fears of bird flu Canwest News Service Published: Friday, January 23, 2009
Ian Lindsay
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quarantined one turkey farm in B.C. and has put a 'restriction movement' order on a number of others within a three kilometre circle of the suspect farm.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Testing began Friday on approximately 23 farms in B.C.'s Fraser Valley after a suspected case of Avian influenza was found on a turkey farm near Abbotsford.
"There's a suspect farm in the Abbotsford area that has been quarantined," the president of the B.C. Poultry Association, Ray Nickel said Friday. "It's a turkey farm. The producer in question had some birds he was concerned about, respiratory-wise. The tests came back that they found a suspect (Avian influenza.")
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quarantined that operation and has put a "restriction movement" order on a number of others within a three kilometre circle of the suspect farm, Mr. Nickel said.
"The other surrounding farms will be allowed to move product, do their normal business subject to a test that shows their flocks are clean," he said.
Mr. Nickel said "this has nothing to do with human health or product contamination. It is only about bird infections."
However, he said it brings back some bad memories of an Avian influenza outbreak in 2004 when a "highly pathogenetic" H7N3 strain of the disease broke out and 2.3 million birds had to be destroyed.http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1211371
Early tests suggests possible bird flu outbreak on B.C. farm
The Canadian Press
January 23, 2009 at 5:12 PM EST
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating the possibility of an H5 avian influenza outbreak on a commercial turkey farm in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, the agency confirmed Friday.
Several farms within a three-kilometre radius of the turkey producer in Abbotsford, B.C., have been placed under quarantine, agency spokesperson Monika Mazur said.
Testing done at the B.C. provincial laboratory suggests the presence of H5 viruses, Ms. Mazur said. Samples have been sent to CFIA's national lab in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing.
“Depending on the sample quality, the initial results regarding the confirmation of the avian influenza could be expected as early as today,” Mazur said from Ottawa on Friday.
The initial testing was done after turkeys on a 50,000 bird farm showed signs of respiratory distress.
If the Winnipeg lab confirms the presence of H5 viruses, additional tests will be needed to identify the virus's neuraminidase subtype — the N in a flu virus's name — and whether the virus is of high or low pathogenicity.
Low path viruses, as they are called, typically only lead to a drop in egg production. But high path viruses are dreaded in poultry operations because they can wipe out whole flocks. And the birds that don't die must be culled to extinguish the outbreak.
In 2004, 17 million birds died or were destroyed in an outbreak caused by a high path H7N3 virus in the Fraser Valley.
Ms. Mazur said it would be a couple of days before the full specifics of the virus type would be known.
The presence of H5 virus, if it is confirmed, does not mean there is an outbreak of the H5N1 virus that has killed nearly 250 people in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. There are multiple subtypes of H5 avian flu. In fact, the Fraser Valley experienced an H5N2 outbreak in November 2005.
Even within H5N1 viruses there are different lineages or families of viruses. The one which has wrecked such havoc in Asia and parts of Africa has so far not been found in North America.
“We have no evidence that it's the Eurasian lineage (virus),” said influenza expert Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control.
“And given what's been found previously in North America, it's most likely the North American lineage.”
Regardless of the virus type, workers will be taking full precautions if a cull of the birds on the farm is ordered, Dr. Skowronski said.
That means wearing protective gear. Workers would also be offered antiviral medication to prevent infection and flu shots to lower the risk that they might get simultaneously infected with human and bird flu viruses. That type of co-infection could give rise to a hybrid virus with the potential to cause a flu pandemic.
“You don't mess around with avian influenza viruses,” Dr. Skowronski said. “You take all precautions.”
A spokesperson for the B.C. Poultry Association said blood samples from the birds at E&H Farms tested positive for avian flu antibodies.
“That doesn't necessarily mean they're diseased with it,” Calvin Bruekelman said. “It could be that they just have antibodies in the blood.”
Mr. Bruekelman said the quarantine was a precaution and no additional action is needed until the confirmatory test results are available.
Ms. Mazur said the CFIA would inform the World Organization for Animal Health of the findings. Any outbreak of avian influenza involving H5 or H7 strains must be reported to the Paris-based organization, because those two subtypes can produce high path viruses.
Confirmation of an H5 or an H7 outbreak would likely lead to some countries closing their doors to poultry imports from the affected area.
Several Abbotsford poultry farms were under a quarantine on Friday after a suspected outbreak of avian influenza was detected on a turkey farm.(CBC) A possible outbreak of avian influenza has left several poultry farms in B.C.'s Fraser Valley under quarantine as officials conduct further tests.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency imposed the quarantine on an undisclosed number of farms within a one- to three-kilometre radius of a turkey producer in Abbotsford, B.C., according to the president of the B.C. Poultry Association, Ray Nickel.
Avian influenza antibodies have been found in some 12-week-old turkeys, but testing is still underway to determine whether they have the virus and what strain of it might be involved, said Nickel.
"It is unconfirmed at this point as to what type it is," he said. "It appears to be a low [pathogenic strain] because of the on-farm situation — low mortality and that sort of thing."
Seventeen million birds were slaughtered in the Fraser Valley in February 2004 following an outbreak of the H7N3 version of the disease, a different strain from deadly H5N1 version linked to deaths and illnesses in Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Europe.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...bbotsford.html
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Bird flu returns to Fraser Valley
By Crawford Kilian January 23, 2009 08:55 am
A still-unidentified strain of bird flu has been found on an Abbotsford turkey farm. It’s not the first time, but it could be the most serious outbreak since the mass culling of 17 million Fraser Valley birds in 2004.
A spokesperson for the industry, speaking on CBC radio’s Early Edition, said the virus is probably a low-pathogenic strain.
The 2004 avian flu outbreak was H7N3, a strain that is rarely dangerous to humans.
Only low-path H5N1 has ever been identified in North America. The high-pathogenic strain has devastated Asian, African and European poultry industries since 2003, and infecting 399 humans. According to the World Health Organization, 251 of those cases have been fatal.
A report by CTV.ca provides a few early details about the Abbotsford outbreak. Crawford Kilian, a contributing editor of The Tyee, blogs about avian flu at H5N1.http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Food...01/23/BirdFlu/
Photograph by: Jean Konda-Witte, Abbotsford-Mission Times
METRO VANCOUVER - Up to 60,000 turkeys on a farm near Abbotsford will be culled and their bodies likely composted due to an outbreak of avian flu. Initial testing has shown birds at E & H Farms are carrying avian flu, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is awaiting final confirmation from a lab in Winnipeg. “At this point in time, while we’re waiting for the test, we are making plans for how we will destroy the birds and how we will dispose of the carcasses,” said Sandra Stephens, a disease control specialist with the C.F.I.A. “We want to be prepared to be able to act very, very quickly once we receive the final word from the lab.” In an effort to contain the virus, 22 commercial farms in a three-kilometre radius surrounding E & H Farms have been under quarantine since the virus was initially detected Wednesday night. The quarantine means poultry products cannot leave a farm until they have been tested and show no signs of the avian flu. The quarantine will remain in effect for three weeks after the turkeys are culled, Stephens said. The initial test, which was conducted at a lab in Abbotsford, was prompted when a worker noticed the birds seemed to be suffering from some sort of respiratory distress. Mortality among the birds in the two barns at the farm has been normal to “perhaps slightly elevated,” Stephens said.
Initial tests show the virus is an H5 strain, which is an indication it could become highly pathogenic, similar to the H5N1 virus that has killed more than 250 people worldwide. But Stephens said there has been no evidence to suggest it is an unusually dangerous form of the virus.
[i]“It’s possible that we could have an H5N1, but it would appear, just by the way this virus is acting, that it’s not a highly pathogenic form, so it wouldn’t be the Asian strain,” she said. There are 16 different H-types of the virus, but it is the H5 and the H7 types that can quickly change from a low pathogenic form to a highly pathogenic form, Stephens said.
Dr. Perry Kendall, provincial health officer, said there is no risk to public health at this time. He said one worker at the turkey farm has possibly been affected by contact with the birds, but measures are in place to ensure the health and safety of anyone else who might come in contact with an infected bird.
“We’ve got rapid communication and if we need to, we can very quickly get out and assess who might be at risk,” Kendall said. “We have protocols in place for the protection that we think is needed for the people who would be exposed if they did a cull.”
Those who come in direct contact with the infected birds will have to take a course of anti-viral drugs as a precaution.
“The risk is really remote that the avian influenza would move to humans or infect a human,” he said.
During the avian flu outbreak of 2004, the virus was never detected in a human, but more than 17 million birds were culled, making it the largest animal cull in Canadian history. Most of the carcasses were composted and Stephens said composting is still the preferred method of disposal.
Kendall said the Asian strain of the virus has never been detected in North America. He said there has been thorough testing and surveillance of both farm fowl and wild birds, which are also known to carry the virus.
Calvin Breukelman, chair of the B.C. Poultry Association’s biosecurity committee, said an emergency response team coordinated by the poultry industry was mobilized Friday morning.
Since the 2004 outbreak, he said farmers have been working closely with the C.F.I.A. to enhance biosecurity and communication.
Despite all the precautionary measures, Breukelman said the local poultry industry is concerned whenever it hears of a possible outbreak of avian flu.
“Of course we’re concerned,” he said. “We want to be able to ensure, first of all that if it is on this farm, that we deal with it effectively and prevent it from spreading any further. That’s the number-one priority for us.
“We’re all hoping for the best with this thing, but if we do get the news that it’s a positive flock, then we’ll have to go in and deal with it accordingly. We just hope that everything’s going to turn out fine.”
Liz Bicknell, spokeswoman with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, said the farm in question has been diligent about biosecurity.
"This particular farm we're dealing with right now, their biosecurity measures are impeccable — they are very, very high," Bicknell saidhttp://www.vancouversun.com/Health/t...181/story.html
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Ducks can be asymptomatic, largely because they have H5 antibodies. There is a lot of low path H5 flying around Canada, and at least one report said the turkeys had antibodies, so high path H5N1 would not necessarily cause a large number of deaths.
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Analysis underway to determine possible B.C. outbreak of avian flu: CFIA
Last Updated: Friday, January 23, 2009 | 8:27 PM PT
Several Abbotsford poultry farms were under a precautionary quarantine on Friday after a suspected outbreak of avian influenza was detected on a commercial turkey farm.(CBC) Lab tests confirmed the presence of the H5 strain of avian influenza in a Fraser Valley turkey farm Friday as health officials continued the quarantine of all poultry farms within three kilometres of the property.
Blood work revealed bird flu antibodies in some 12-week-old birds, and a detailed genetic analysis is underway to determine the potential danger of an outbreak, said Sandra Stephens, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The initial testing was done after some of the 50,000 turkeys on the E&H Farms in Abbotsford showed signs of respiratory distress.
"Right now, we are in the process of planning for the destruction, planning for the disposal, getting all the premises identified in the area, determining what birds they have … and what type of surveillance we will need to do on those other farms that are under quarantine," Stephens told CBC News.
Sandra Stephens, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, says a detailed genetic analysis is underway to determine the potential danger of an avian flu outbreak.(CBC) Twenty-three other farms within a three-kilometre radius are under a precautionary quarantine until the agency determines the subtype of H5 that has made the birds sick, and whether the virus is of high or low pathogenicity.
The B.C. Poultry Association said Friday there were some health issues among some turkeys at the commercial farm recently.
"There was some minor respiratory problems … so there were some producers being proactive and trying to find out what the issue was," association spokesman Calvin Breukelman told said.
Danuta Skowronski, an epidemiologist with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said the risk to human health is negligible even if an outbreak is confirmed.
"In terms of the general public, the risk either way is about as close to zero as you can get. Our concern would focus on making sure that anyone having direct exposure with avian influenza is well protected," Skowronski said.
Seventeen million birds were slaughtered in the Fraser Valley in February 2004 following an outbreak of the H7N3 version of the disease, a different strain from deadly H5N1 version linked to nearly 250 deaths and other illnesses in Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Europe.
The presence of H5 virus in the Fraser Valley turkeys does not mean there is an outbreak of the H5N1 virus, Skowronski said, and there are multiple subtypes of H5 avian flu. With files from the Canadian Press
| Story comments (55)
Truth Seeker wrote:Posted 2009/01/24
at 12:20 AM ETpennylane wrote:
Our lab here in Regina Prairie Diagnostic Services is closing in March in order to save money. This facility which tests for such things as avian flu is needed none more than ever.
Re: B.C. poultry farms quarantined by suspected outbreak of avian influenza
Expert warned two years ago of bird flu danger near time of 2010 Olympics
Farmers didn't take security seriously, he says
By Chad Skelton, Vancouver SunJanuary 24, 2009 11:01
E & H Farms, a turkey farm near Abbotsford.
Photograph by: Jean Konda-Witte, Abbotsford-Mission Times
An official with B.C.’s Agriculture Ministry warned the poultry industry two years ago that if farmers didn’t take biosecurity measures more seriously the province could face a bird-flu outbreak within months of the 2010 Olympics, something he said would be a “political disaster.”
The warning is contained in a January 2007 e-mail — obtained by The Vancouver Sun through the Freedom of Information Act — from Stewart Paulson, a poultry industry specialist with the government, to Calvin Breukelman, then chair of the BC Poultry Association’s biosecurity committee.
In the e-mail, Paulson expressed frustration that some Fraser Valley poultry farmers still weren’t keeping the gates on their farms closed at all times — a measure intended to reduce foot and vehicle traffic, which can spread infection from one farm to another.
“In a few years we are going to have a major event in the province that B.C./Canada has invested billions to bring about,” Paulson stated in the e-mail. “If this province broke with AI [avian influenza] within six months of this event it would be a political disaster for the B.C. poultry industry. When the farmers drive through those gates, and are deciding whether it is worth stopping and closing those gates, they need to think of those consequences.”
In an interview Friday, Breukelman acknowledged some farmers thought the new gate rules were “a bit of a nuisance”, as they had to get out of their tractors several times a day to open and close them.
However, Breukelman said most farmers have since become used to the idea, while others have installed electric gates that open and close automatically.
In 2004, a massive bird-flu outbreak in the Fraser Valley led to the culling of 17 million birds.
In response, the government and poultry producers began developing mandatory biosecurity rules for farmers, such as keeping gates closed at all times and changing their footwear before entering or exiting a barn.
All poultry producers in the province were supposed to be following the new rules by the start of 2007. However, by mid-2007, fewer than 15 per cent had been certified as complying.
Ron Lewis, B.C.’s chief veterinarian, said Friday that well over 90 per cent of all poultry farms have now been biosecurity certified, and those that remain only have minor problems left to fix.
“It’s taken a long time to get here ... but we’ve got pretty full compliance now,” he said.
Breukelman said poultry farmers have received the message that biosecurity is important.
“Initially, we had some push back on it, but for the most part it’s been well received,” he said. “You might have some farmers that get grumpy about it. But, at the end of the day, it’s all about disease mitigation — and they’re all in favour of that.” cskelton@vancouversun.com http://www.vancouversun.com/Health/E...411/story.html
Last edited by AlaskaDenise; February 28th, 2009 at 08:28 PM.
Reason: remove photo
Several Abbotsford farms were under quarantine yesterday, as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigated a possible outbreak of avian influenza.
The results of those tests were not known as of press deadline yesterday (Friday), as the quarantine remained on all farms within a three kilometre radius of the turkeys that were being tested.
The tests were reportedly ordered after antibodies for avian flu were found in some 12-week-old turkeys at E & H Farms, on Lefeuvre Road.
CFIA spokesperson Monika Mazur said yesterday morning that the results from the tests may have been known as early as last night.
At that point, Mazur said the CFIA would know whether there was a positive for avian flu. The exact strain of the disease would take longer to determine, she added.
“If we do confirm a positive, we will then investigate where it may have spread to,” she said.
“It should be remembered that human illness is very rare, unless you have been in very close contact [with the birds].”
The affected farm, she said, has 50,000 turkeys.
Ron Lewis, Chief Veterinarian of B.C. and Director of the Animal Health Branch, confirmed that tests for avian flu were conducted at Abbotsford’s new Containment Level 3 lab on Thursday.
Those results were then sent to the CFIA in Winnipeg, said Lewis, adding that the CFIA is the “lead agency” and has to be the first to confirm all Canadian avian flu outbreaks.
If avian flu is confirmed, Lewis said all future tests can then be completed in Abbotsford rather than in Winnipeg.
“We are working with them [the CFIA] very closely,” he added.
Seventeen million poultry were slaughtered in the Fraser Valley in 2004, due to an outbreak of the H7N3 strain of the avian flu.
The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. Moderators on this forum make every effort to review the material posted on this site however, it is not realistically possible for our staff to manually review each post.
The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original authors or posters and are not endorsed by, or representative of the opinions of, the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author or poster and should not be construed as statements of advice or factual information.
Not all posts on this website are intended as truthful or factual assertion by their authors. NO posts on this website should be considered factual information on face value alone. Users are encouraged to USE DISCERNMENT and do their own follow up research while reading and posting on this website. FluTrackers.com Inc. reserves the right to make changes to, corrections and/or remove entirely at any time posts made on this website without notice. In addition, FluTrackers.com Inc. disclaims any and all liability for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of a post on this website.
This site is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. You should not assume that this site is error-free or that it will be suitable for the particular purpose which you have in mind when using it. In no event shall FluTrackers.com Inc. be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages of any kind, or any damages whatsoever, including, without limitation, those resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether or not advised of the possibility of damage, and on any theory of liability, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this site or other documents which are referenced by or linked to this site.
Finally, FluTrackers.com Inc. reserves the right to delete, correct, or make changes to any post on this website without notice at any time for any reason.
Fair Use Notice:
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to public health, civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C.Section 107, the material on this site is distributed to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss and no more than 50% of the source material, provide a link back to the original article and provide your original comments / criticism in your post with the article. Please remember you are responsible for what you post on the internet and you could be sued by the original copyright holder if you do not honor these rules.
If you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright
we may be contacted concerning copyright matters at:
FluTrackers.com Inc.
c/o Sharon Sanders
1676 Hibiscus Avenue
Winter Park, Florida 32789
Phone: 407-406-3037
E-Mail: flutrackers@earthlink.net
In accordance with section 512 of the U.S. Copyright Act our contact information has been registered with the United States Copyright Office. "Safe Harbor" noticing procedures as outlined in the DMCA apply to this website concerning all 3rd party posts published herein.
If notice is given of an alleged copyright violation we will act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material(s) in question.
All 3rd party material posted on this website is the copyright of the respective owners / authors. FluTrackers.com Inc. makes no claim of copyright on such material.
For more information please visit:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
Please be aware any communications sent complaining about a post on this website may be posted publicly at the discretion of the administration.
FluTrackers Does Not Provide Any Medical Advice:
FluTrackers, Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster.
The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website.
By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
By using and/or accessing this site, either passively or actively, you are agreeing to all of the above conditions. Also, by using and/or accessing this site, either passively or actively, you agree to conduct all business and legal affairs related to this website in the jurisdiction of Flutrackers.com Inc. which is registered in Central Florida, USA.
These Disclaimers are subject to change at anytime.
Email the Webmaster with questions or comments about this site at flutrackers@earthlink.net
Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on 2nd Turkey Farm
Linear Mode
