Across the country, the number of animals killed by the bird flu epidemic reached nearly three-quarters of a million earlier this week. One district of Central Alberta has five places with the disease and the killing is ongoing.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, ALBERTA – Ongoing efforts to reduce the outbreak of avian influenza are not expected to affect the general public, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
As of Monday, the agency confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype H5N1, in five locations in Mountain View County (MVC), a regional increase of two over the long weekend.
The first three – two in MVC and another in Ponoka County – were identified on April 6th. Another was found two days later on April 8 in Kneehill County. The next day, April 9, a fire was opened in Paintert County. Three more were identified on April 10, 11 and 12 in Wetaskiwin, Camrose and MVC counties, respectively. Then, on April 14, three more places were added to the list – two in the MVC and one in Warner County. The latest information available before the deadline for the press, which was published on the agency’s website, also announced that another location in Cardston County was identified on April 15.
The animals included in the above places are from commercial flocks of poultry in all cases, except one of the cases in the MVC, which is attributed to a small flock.
The agency says it has set up primary control zones (PCZs) in areas where the disease has been identified.
“PCZs are designed to control the risk of further spread of the virus,” said part of an e-mail statement from the CFIA. “Any infected premises are quarantined and will go through a similar process, which includes: destruction and disposal; compensation; cleaning and disinfection; removal of quarantine. “
Although the Albertian was unable to confirm approximately how many birds have been killed so far in the region, the agency said late last week that infected areas in three of the region’s areas were “depopulated and the disposal process is under way.”
The transport of poultry, as well as poultry-related products, within or across zones requires permits issued by the Agency.
“Low-risk movements can happen with a self-service license, which manufacturers and carriers can download from the CFIA website,” it said. “Higher risk movements such as live birds, carcasses, manure and hatching eggs require special permission.”
With regard to poultry trade, the agency said it was working with producers’ marketing boards to check and sort permits to minimize the impact on producers in the affected areas, without compromising control measures. the disease.
One of the areas in the region includes parts of the cities of Olds and Deedsbury.
“But the general public will not usually be affected,” the agency said in response to a question about what the measures could mean for traffic in the area.
“Retail groceries purchased in both cities can be brought to homes outside the PCZ. In addition, retail foodstuffs purchased outside the PCZ can be brought into PCZ homes.
Meanwhile, the number of animals killed across the country earlier this week nearly reached three-quarters of a million.
“At the national level, the affected areas to date have included approximately 700,000 birds,” an e-mail spokesman said in response to questions on April 18, adding that a provincial breakdown of the number of birds is expected to be available on the agency’s website. later this week. .
How long quarantines on the affected properties can be expected to continue depends largely on the individual situation, but can be expected to last at least more than a month.
“The completion of all steps leading to the abolition of quarantine is influenced by a number of premises-specific factors,” the spokesman said. “But the whole process usually takes about 45 days.”
In addition, connected areas and related traffic controls will not be lifted immediately when an infected room is released from quarantine, they said.
“CFIA first completes post-outbreak monitoring to confirm that avian influenza has been eliminated in PCZ.”
Despite the rapid spread of bird populations, the risk of human transmission remains low.
“Human infections with the avian influenza virus are rare and symptoms in humans are often limited to conjunctivitis or mild respiratory disease,” the spokesman said.
“There is no evidence to suggest that eating boiled poultry or eggs can transmit bird flu to humans. All the evidence so far shows that diligent cooking will kill the virus.
However, the agency advises people to stay away from wild birds.
“In order to prevent the spread of avian influenza in bird populations and human exposure, humans must avoid contact with wild birds, refrain from eating or touching wild birds, including access to known lakes or bodies of water. that are used by wild birds.
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