2023-10-23 21:13:42
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that cases of avian flu have been detected on a farm in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Eight thousand birds will be slaughtered.
The CFIA has notified the World Organization for Animal Health of the confirmed presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a poultry farm located in the Fraser Valley, approximately 100 kilometers from Vancouver.
This is the first time this fall that the CFIA has recorded an episode of avian flu on a British Columbia farm. The last report dates back to April 2023.
Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, full professor at the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal, is not surprised by the appearance of this new outbreak: The virus is present in more than 200 species of birds. Some of them are migrating at the moment, which favors transmission to farmed birds.
He specifies that the first provinces affected are generally located in the west of the country.
The H5N1 strain is transmitted by contact with an infected bird or with its droppings or nasal secretions. It was first detected on Canadian farms in late 2021 and has continued to infect farms since.
Preventive actions exist to try to contain the phenomenon
We’re talking about biosecurity on the farm. You must be careful to change your boots when you enter a breeding building and wash your hands. A separation must be created between the farm and the outside, where there are birds likely to carry the virus. Care must be taken to limit travel between farms. If done well, you can control the situation quite well.
7.5 million birds slaughtered
Despite this, as of September 28, 2023, CFIA data shows there have been 330 infected farms across the country, affecting more than 7.5 million birds.
British Columbia is the province with the largest number of affected farms. One hundred and four have been affected since the appearance of the H5N1 strain in Canada and 3,677,000 birds have had to be euthanized in the province.
The province has conditions that favor the breeding of birds outdoors. There is a high density of farms, which increases the risk of contamination, explains Professor Vaillancourt.
76 countries affected
When cases of avian flu are recorded on a farm, all birds on the farm must be culled. The reason is not only health.
Euthanizing the entire flock of birds is also linked to animal welfare. When birds have the virus, they die in almost 100% of cases. Dying from this disease is not a pleasant thing, assures Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt.
According to the professor of veterinary medicine, 76 countries are affected by cases of avian flu. It’s a pandemic phenomenon, we’ve never had this before, he explains, adding that we really have to react.
The H5N1 virus strain has potential zoonotic capabilities. If we allow the virus to circulate, the risk is not negligible that it could one day infect humans, explains Professor Vaillancourt.
He still wants to remain positive: The industry and the CFIA are on the lookout and I think the communications are well received at all levels. I expect there will be fewer outbreaks in Canada than last year, although it is very difficult to predict the situation.
With information from Yvette Brend
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