Key Takeaways:
- According to officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, bird flu has been identified in three more chicken farms in central Alberta.
- According to the CFIA, it was also found in poultry flocks in Kneehill County on Friday, Paintearth County on Saturday, and Wetaskiwin County on Sunday.
Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency stated that bird flu had been discovered in three more chicken farms in central Alberta, increasing the total number of cases to six.
Last week, two chicken flocks in Mountain View County and one flock in Ponoka County were proven to have a highly virulent H5N1 type of avian flu.
According to the CFIA, it was also discovered in poultry flocks in Kneehill County on Friday, Paintearth County on Saturday, and Wetaskiwin County on Sunday.
The affected properties have been quarantined, an investigation has begun, and the CFIA will implement movement control measures on other farms in the region.
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According to the report, the cases have been submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Approximately 260,000 birds have been euthanized or died in Canada due to the illness. There were around 166,000 in Alberta and 84,000 in Ontario.
According to the CFIA, Avian influenza is not a substantial public health hazard for healthy persons who do not come into connection with infected birds frequently.
The instances, it says, serve as a stark reminder that avian influenza is spreading worldwide and that everybody who works with farm animals needs to follow proper biosecurity practices to safeguard poultry and prevent sickness.
In recent months, incidences of bird flu in poultry and non-poultry flocks have been reported in Ontario, Nova Scotia, as well as Newfoundland, and Labrador.
The most recent outbreak of bird flu originated in Europe last year and has now migrated to the United States as well as Canada, wreaking havoc on certain commercial farms due to its high fatality rate.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency believes that migratory birds are to blame for the country’s 25 outbreaks. More instances will emerge as flocks continue to migrate north for the summer. So yet, no evidence of farm-to-farm transmission has been found.
“I believe this is one of the greater numbers of cases of avian influenza in various provinces in recent memory, and the first time we’ve encountered H5N1,” said Dr. Mary Jane Ireland, chief veterinary officer.
“AI is spreading around the globe in wild bird populations and poses a huge national risk as birds migrate to Canada,” according to a press statement.
“Anyone with poultry or other sensitive birds should continue to adopt excellent biosecurity techniques to protect them from contagious animal diseases,” the CFIA says.
Source: CTV News
