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It has been a while since we’ve seen an update from CFIA – Canada’s Food Inspection Agency – on the H5N2 outbreak in British Columbia, but sometimes no news is good news. Last night the agency posted the following statement asserting that no new poultry outbreaks have been detected since December 19th.
Update on avian influenza situation in British Columbia
January 8, 2015
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its response to an outbreak of avian influenza in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley.
No new sites have been identified since December 19, 2014, and depopulation of the infected premises is complete. The Agency is monitoring the progress of disposal of dead birds, and cleaning and disinfection of barns, vehicles, equipment and tools on the infected premises.
The CFIA continues to work closely with the Province of British Columbia, the owners of the infected birds, and the poultry industry to manage this outbreak. Surveillance of domestic poultry within the primary control zone is ongoing. Movement restrictions for poultry and poultry products are still in place. Compensation for affected farmers is rolling out on schedule.
Disease control measures will remain in place for 21 days after the cleaning and disinfection of all confirmed infected premises is complete, providing there have been no positive results from surveillance activities.
Strict surveillance will continue in the area for the next 90 days. If no additional cases of avian influenza are found within this period, the zone can be considered free of avian influenza.
The CFIA continues to urge poultry farmers to take an active role in protecting their flocks by employing strict biosecurity measures on their property, and to immediately report any suspicious symptoms.
Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked.
For more information on avian influenza and measures poultry farmers can take to protect their flocks, please visit the CFIA web site at inspection.gc.ca.
CFIA List of Infected Commercial & Non-Commercial Premises
While there are optimistic signs that British Columbia’s poultry outbreak has been contained, with recent detections of HPAI H5 viruses in wild and migratory birds Washington, Oregon, and California, concerns remain over just how much of a threat they will pose to Canadian and American poultry interests in the future.
