This is the first time Alberta has been affected by bird flu. An epidemic in 2004 in British Columbia devastated chicken producers. Maria Leslie / Distribution
With a confirmed positive case of avian influenza on a British Columbia farm in the Northern Okanagan area and eight in Alberta, poultry farmers in western Canada are under significant pressure to protect their flocks.
This is the first time Alberta has been infected. A 2004 outbreak in British Columbia devastated chicken producers.
Jean-Michel Lorin, President and CEO of the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council, expressed serious concern.
“Obviously this is a very serious situation for our industry,” Mr Lorin said. “I would say that we have been on high alert for a long time and I know that our producers have been stepping up their biosecurity measures on farms for a long time, because we knew there was a significant threat.
In a statement this week, Alberta Agriculture Secretary Nate Horner said the latest outbreak of the virus was originally found in backyard and commercial poultry flocks in the eastern United States, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, as well as in wild birds in the United States. Vancouver.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating the cases, but no one from the CFIA was available for comment on Thursday.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture of Canada said this week that the food industry is making adjustments to maintain the supply of poultry and eggs in the face of the outbreak of bird flu in Canada and around the world.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has been found in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta since late 2021.
Positive cases can lead to the killing of entire herds. So far, about 260,000 birds have been euthanized or killed by the virus in Canada. Approximately 166,000 of them are in Alberta and 84,000 are in Ontario.
While most forms of bird flu are mild, H5N1 can cause serious illness and death in birds.
BC Poultry Association has introduced the highest biosecurity measures with a “red code”, which include strict cleaning and sanitation practices. Farmers change their shoes and clothes many times when moving around their farms and regularly disinfect the tires of incoming and outgoing vehicles.
“Whatever is outside cannot go inside with the animals, the animals must be protected from all external elements,” said Jeff Nottenbomer, a farmer near Lethbridge, Alta, and chairman of hatching egg producers in Alberta.
Lisa Bishop-Spencer, brand and communications director of Chicken Farmers in Canada, said there were no concerns about poultry supplies at this time.
“There is no problem with supply chains; we want consumers to know that poultry and egg products are easily available. And as always, they are safe to eat, “said Bishop Spencer. “This is not a matter of food safety. This is a health problem for the herd. “
In a statement, the Minister of Agriculture and Food of British Columbia Lana Pofam said: “The risk to public health is extremely low and there is no risk to food safety.
“I know this is an incredibly stressful time for our poultry and egg producers. They have endured so much in the last two years. They have shown that they are really resilient, “the statement said.
Mr Nottenbomer said that if his farm was depopulated, it would take about a year and a half before he could return to a regular cycle.
“This is the first time we have a positive result in Alberta. And, you know, we jumped pretty fast to seven positives. So all the farmers here are quite worried and upset, “said Mr Nottenbomer.
“We also have questions why this year? What is different this year is that we see this challenge? “
Ray Nickel is a poultry farmer in South Abbotsford, British Columbia, and a spokesman for BCPA.
Mr Nickle’s farm was infected with avian influenza in 2004. “We’ve been through this many times in British Columbia,” he said. “It doesn’t get easier when you think about width. In fact, sometimes it’s worse because we know what it looks like. We don’t want that on anyone. “
Mr Nottenbomer said his heart was focused on the farmers affected, calling the situation “life-changing”.
“It’s devastating. It’s emotional, it leaves scars on them, that’s for sure. You talk about what it means to be a farmer and all we do is take care of our animals. This is our life. So when our animals are in trouble, we are in trouble. “
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