Avian Flu Strain H5N2
Prince George, B.C.- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has identified the strain of Avian flu that has surfaced in the Fraser Valley .
The strain is H5N2 , “a very highly pathogenic” strain says Dr. Harpreet Kochhar Chief Veterinary Officer with the CFIA. He says this particular strain has a high mortality rate within the bird population. It is the same strain which surfaced in Manitoba in 2010 and in B.C. in 2009 but the strain was not as strong .
The two farms that were added to the quarantine yesterday, have now been confirmed to have H5 Avian Flu, and all birds on those two farms will be destroyed.
“The Avian Influenza virus does not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked” says Dr. Kochhar “Avian influenza rarely affects humans that do not have consistent contact with infected birds. Any illness would be mild, public health authorities are ready to take precautionary measures required.”
All four farms remain under quarantine.
Farmers will be receiving compensation for their losses. On the first two farms, it is estimated 28 thousand birds have either died from the virus or will be euthanized at the two original sites. There is no estimate on how many birds at the additional two farms will have to be destroyed.
Dr. Jane Pritchard, the Chief Veterinary Officer for B.C. says all four farms are within an 8 kilometer stretch between Chilliwack and Abbotsford. “We think this strain has a 3-5 day incubation period, and if it hits, the producer isn’t going to miss it. When it hits, it hits hard.”
She says while chickens exhibited signs of the virus, the turkeys failed to show the typical symptoms of swelling, or hemorrhages. She says the turkeys died with no visible cause for their death.
Dr. Pritchard says there has been excellent communication and cooperation from producers “Our intention is to get out of this quickly and get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Dr. Kochhar says it is too early to say if the disease has been contained, “At this point, we are only focusing on the four farms that have shown the symptoms.”
Comments
Just curious. … If the strain has not shown up since 2009 in B.C., where did it come from now? How did the strain start over again? Do they import birds from other countries and it came with?
Livingonwater -> some of the other stories I have read on this subject suggest that it is possible for domestic flocks to be infected by migrating, wild birds in addition to other transmission methods. The timing of the infections would support this as a possibility.
Are you saying, the wild birds are interacting with the chickens and turkeys that are kept inside, fed, and never accessing the outside?
Interesting theory…………
Even birds that are indoors for their entire life can catch avian flu from a wild flock
It is transmitted through fluids and feces. If an employee walks through feces outside and then walks into the pen you have transmission. If a infected bird lands in a feed storage area and happens to let loose the feed then is contaminated and birds can get infected once they eat the feed. You may note when they show workers enter the barn they remove their shoes, this is to prevent transmission of the avian flu to domestic birds in the barn.
Ham sounds good to me this holiday season.
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