Be Informed About Avian Influenza In British Colombia, Canada

Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious viral infection that can affect several species of food producing birds as well as pet birds and wild birds. AI viruses can be classified into two categories: low pathogenicity (LPAI) and highly pathogenic (HPAI) forms, based on the severity of the illness caused in birds.
Avian influenza viruses, such as the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus present in Asia, may, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred through close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments.
In Canada, highly pathogenic avian influenza and low pathogenicity H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses are considered to be Notifiable Avian Influenza, which is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act. All cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
More Info at CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Works To Control Avian Influenza In British Columbia

 After testing by the Province of British Columbia, CIFA has confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza on two farms in the Fraser Valley; a turkey farm in Abbotsford and a broiler breeder farm in Chilliwack.

CFIA continues avian influenza investigation in British Columbia

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its investigation into an outbreak of avian influenza on two farms in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.
The two farms continue to be under quarantine to control disease spread, and two additional farms in the Fraser Valley have been placed under quarantine today. These farms were determined to be at high risk since they received birds from one of the original farms. Birds on these new farms were also showing signs of illness.
As avian influenza is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, it is possible that additional at-risk farms may be identified in the coming days. Poultry farmers are encouraged to report any suspicious symptoms to the CFIA.
The CFIA will continue to advise the public and the poultry industry if additional farms are confirmed to be affected.
Testing continues in order to confirm pathogenicity. Results are expected within days.
In the coming days, the CFIA will humanely euthanize and dispose of all birds on the infected premises in accordance with provincial environmental regulations and internationally accepted disease control guidelines.
When animals affected by a disease are ordered destroyed by the CFIA under the Health of Animals Act, the farmer is also informed that they will receive compensation. The CFIA is dedicated to working directly with affected producers so that the compensation process runs as smoothly as possible.
For animals ordered destroyed, the CFIA bases compensation amounts on the animal's market value (up to a maximum amount as stipulated in the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations), taking into consideration factors such as genetic background, age and production records. For example, a normal eating chicken is assigned a rate of $20 per bird, a breeding chicken is $1200 per bird, a turkey is $70 per bird, and a breeding turkey is $1050 per bird. Please refer to the Schedule in the Regulations for accurate amounts.
Normally, a producer can expect compensation in 6 to 10 weeks.
Beyond the CFIA's compensation, other financial assistance may be available through programs administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and, in some cases, provincial or territorial governments. Costs and losses considered by these programs may include business disruption and other extraordinary costs incurred due to disease.
Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. Avian influenza rarely affects humans that do not have consistent contact with infected birds. Public health authorities stand ready to take precautionary measures as warranted.
The CFIA has mobilized all available resources to manage this situation. The Agency continues to work closely with the Province of British Columbia, the owners of the infected birds, and the poultry industry to manage this outbreak.

A second suspected outbreak of bird flu is being investigated in UK

A second suspected outbreak of bird flu is being investigated after birds due to be culled in a precautionary measure were found to be already dead.

The dead birds were discovered overnight when animal health officials turned up to kill the farm's 5,500 turkeys.

Grove farm in Botesdale, Suffolk, was one of four sites yesterday assessed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to have been in "dangerous contact" with the initial case of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Read more at Guardian

Tags: bird flu, H5N1

China is hiding H5N1 bird-flu virus information

China's lack of openness about its handling of bird-flu cases makes it difficult for experts to determine if the dangerous H5N1 virus is mutating and spreading, a World Health Organization official told Agence France Presse Friday.

"The situation in China is quite confusing and there is some conflicting information," said Julie Hall, the WHO's coordinator of epidemic alert and response in China.

"We really don't know how many strains of bird flu there are in China because we have limited amounts of information shared with us by the Ministry of Agriculture and the virus samples we have asked for have not been shared," Hall told AFP.

She made her remarks after Chinese officials discounted claims by U.S. and Hong Kong scientists that a new strain of bird flu -- called the "Fujian-like" strain -- had appeared in southern China.

China's Ministry of Agriculture said the strain of bird flu that's emerged in southern China is consistent with earlier strains, AFP reported.

Expert worry that the H5N1 bird-flu virus could mutate into a form that's easily transmitted between humans and spark a global pandemic.

Tags: bird flu, Fujian-like, H5N1