Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Canada - CFIA confirms presence of H5N1 virus in British Columbia

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Canada - CFIA confirms presence of H5N1 virus in British Columbia

    Avian influenza hits another backyard coop in B.C.: industry group


    THE CANADIAN PRESS
    FEBRUARY 6, 2015 11:33 AM




    CHILLIWACK, B.C. - An industry group says a backyard chicken coop in B.C.'s Fraser Valley is the latest to be hit with avian influenza, marking the first such case in more than a month.

    An outbreak that began last December hit 11 commercial chicken and turkey farms in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Langley, as well as a backyard coop in Langley.

    Ray Nickel of the B.C. Poultry Association says avian influenza has been detected at a backyard coop in Chilliwack with about 80 egg-laying chickens.


    - See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/avian-i....09XtUdlq.dpuf
    CHILLIWACK, B.C. - An industry group says a backyard chicken coop in B.C.'s Fraser Valley is the latest to be hit with avian influenza, marking the first such case in more than a month.An outbreak . . .
    ?Addressing chronic disease is an issue of human rights ? that must be our call to arms"
    Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief The Lancet

    ~~~~ Twitter:@GertvanderHoek ~~~ GertvanderHoek@gmail.com ~~~

  • #2
    Avian Influenza – British Columbia
    Infected Premises


    Last updated: 2015-02-07 – 4:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. PST)
    The following table lists commercial infected premises (IP) identified as part of the ongoing avian influenza situation in British Columbia.
    1 Chilliwack, BC 2014-12-01 Broiler Breeders 13,000
    2 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-01 Turkeys 28,000
    3 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-04 Broiler Breeders 14,000 2015-02-07
    4 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-04 Broiler Breeders 25,000
    5 Table Note* Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-06 Turkeys 33,000 2015-02-04
    6 Table Note* Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-09 Turkeys 33,000 2015-02-07
    7 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-10 Broiler Breeders 19,000
    8 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-10 Broiler Breeders 8,800
    9 Abbotsford, BC 2014-12-11 Broiler Breeders 7,000
    10 Langley, BC 2014-12-13 Table Egg Layers 53,000
    11 Langley, BC 2014-12-17 Broiler Breeders 11,800
    Total: 245,600
    Table Notes

    Table Note * IP5 and IP6 are located on the same site; however, as they are legally considered separate business entities, they are treated as two separate infected premises.
    Return to table note*referrer


    The following table lists non-commercial infected premises (IPNC) identified as part of the ongoing avian influenza situation in British Columbia.
    1 Aldergrove,BC 2014-12-19 Ducks/Chickens/Geese/Turkeys 85
    2 Chilliwack, BC 2015-02-02 Table Egg Layers 95
    Total: 180
    Date modified: 2015-02-07


    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
    -Nelson Mandela

    Comment


    • #3
      CFIA confirms presence of H5N1 virus in British Columbia and removal of quarantines from three farms

      February 7, 2015

      The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its investigation into an outbreak of avian influenza in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The CFIA has confirmed the presence of a high pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus on a non-commercial farm in Chilliwack, BC. The infected premises is under quarantine, depopulation of the affected birds has been completed and disposal measures are underway.

      This is the first time the H5N1 strain of the virus has been detected during the current avian influenza outbreak in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The other affected farms in BC were infected by the H5N2 strain.

      The H5N1 strain was found in wild birds in Washington State in January 2015.

      The CFIA applies the same disease control measures following detections of H5N1 and H5N2 avian influenza viruses.

      This new infected premises reminds us that risks for new infections remain a concern. Monitoring and surveillance activities continue to be a very important part of controlling this outbreak. It is important that all bird owners have good biosecurity measures in place to protect their flocks from infection.

      Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked.

      As part of the ongoing efforts, quarantines for three premises located in Abbotsford, BC have been lifted.

      It has been 21 days since the infected premises underwent the required cleaning and disinfection measures; therefore, the premises are now considered to be free of the disease.

      It is important to note that the lifting of the quarantines will not change the boundaries within the Primary Control Zone, including the 10 km restricted zone.

      Strict surveillance will continue in the area for 90 days after the last cleaning and disinfection is done to the satisfaction of theCFIA. If no additional cases of avian influenza are found within this period, the zone can be considered free of avian influenza.

      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.

      Date modified: 2015-02-07

      http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/.../1423076828697
      "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
      -Nelson Mandela

      Comment


      • #4
        Hattip: Crofsblogs

        February 07, 2015

        Canada: First H5N1 found in Fraser Valley non-commercial poultry farm
        ...
        I've been aware of this hobby-farm outbreak for a couple of days, but our local media have stuck to "bird flu" to describe it. As the report says, earlier outbreaks have been H5N2, which is tough on the birds and their owners, but not on the rest of us.

        Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is another story, and CFIA appears to be working hard to understate the implications. HPAI H5N1 is a malevolent but dumb virus. It got its first big break in 1997 when it learned how to infect people in Hong Kong.

        Hong Kong slaughtered every chicken it could lay its hands on, and the virus went underground until 2003, when it began to pop up in China, Thailand, Vietnam?and eventually as far as Nigeria and Britain.

        I was aware that H5N1 had been spotted in wild birds just south of us in Washington state, but its appearance in domestic poultry less than an hour's drive from Vancouver is a bit worrying.

        Once in a very great while, H5N1 gets really unlucky and lands in a human and not in a chicken or duck. The human is almost as likely to die as the birds are, but it happens really rarely?only 694 times since 2003, according to WHO, but with 402 deaths. That usually ends the story, because this stupid rustic virus lacks the common sense of its urbane human-to-human influenza cousins, who feast on us year after year.

        But viruses are the world's greatest optimists, always hoping that some day they'll make the big-time of becoming endemic in a juicy new population of whatever unlucky species it meets. Now that HPAI H5N1 has turned up in the immigrants' Utopia of North America, it will keep trying. Rags to riches: that's the North American dream.

        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

        Comment


        • #5
          ...
          The following table lists non-commercial infected premises (IPNC) identified as part of the ongoing avian influenza situation in British Columbia.
          1 Aldergrove,BC 2014-12-19 Ducks/Chickens/Geese/Turkeys 85
          2 Chilliwack, BC 2015-02-02 Table Egg Layers 95
          Total: 180

          Date modified: 2015-02-07

          http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/.../1418340584180

          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Hens near Chilliwack catch H5N1 avian flu
          ...
          Posted Feb. 7th, 2015 by Dave Bedard

          About 95 layer hens on a ?non-commercial? farm near Chilliwack are the Fraser Valley?s latest cases of avian influenza, but not of the same strain seen at 12 other farms in December.

          The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Saturday announced a quarantine on the Chilliwack farm after confirming, effective Feb. 2, that table egg-laying birds at the site are infected with highly-pathogenic (?high-path?) H5N1 avian flu.

          The same H5N1 strain was found in wild birds in neighbouring Washington state last month, but this marks the first appearance of the strain in British Columbia during the province?s latest avian flu outbreak, CFIA said in a release.

          ...
          About 95 layer hens on a “non-commercial” farm near Chilliwack are the Fraser Valley’s latest cases of avian influenza, but not of the same strain seen at 12 other farms in December. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Saturday announced a quarantine on the Chilliwack farm after confirming, effective Feb. […]
          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment


          • #6
            Hattip: Michael Coston

            Sunday, February 08, 2015


            H5N1 Detected In B.C. Backyard Flock







            # 9686
            On January 15th of this year we learned of the first detection of a reassorted HPAI EA/AM H5N1 virus in North America, when this emerging subtype was detected in a green-winged teal in Whatcom County, Washington (see OIE: New Reassortant HPAI H5N1 In North America).
            While carrying the same HA/NA designations as its more infamous Asian cousin - this subtype is comprised of gene segments from the Eurasian (EA) H5N8 virus, along with genetic contributions from North American (AM) avian viruses.
            In other words, a new version of H5N1.
            The OIE described it as:
            This H5N1 subtype is different from strain circulating in Asia.
            The gene constellation is as follows:
            • Eurasian lineage genes (PB2, H5, NP, MP >99% identical to A/gyrfalcon/WA/41088/2014 H5N8);
            • North American lineage genes (PB1 {98% identical to A/Northern pintail/Washington/40964/2014 H5N2}, PA, N1, NS of North American LPAI wild bird lineage.
            The HA cleavage site is compatible with strains that are highly pathogenic. This novel HPAI EA/AM H5N1-reassortant virus has NOT been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the United States.
            Although this reassortant was discovered in only one bird last month, the implications are that it is probably spreading in other wild and migratory birds as well, and so it isn’t terribly surprising that it would turn up again in the Pacific Northwest.

            After a couple of days of rumors and media reports, yesterday Canada’sCFIA posted the following notice of the detection of this new virus in a“non-commercial’ flock in Chilliwack, BC.
            CFIA confirms presence of H5N1 virus in British Columbia and removal of quarantines from three farms
            February 7, 2015
            The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its investigation into an outbreak of avian influenza in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The CFIA has confirmed the presence of a high pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus on a non-commercial farm in Chilliwack, BC. The infected premises is under quarantine, depopulation of the affected birds has been completed and disposal measures are underway.
            This is the first time the H5N1 strain of the virus has been detected during the current avian influenza outbreak in British Columbia's Fraser Valley. The other affected farms in BC were infected by the H5N2 strain.
            The H5N1 strain was found in wild birds in Washington State in January 2015.
            (Continue . . .)
            This notification provides us with very little actual information beyond the requisite assurances that `Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked.’
            We are even left to assume that this H5N1 virus is a match for the Washington state finding (likely so, but not stated implicitly).
            While some of their official nonchalance may be forced, it is absolutely true that so far we’ve not seen any evidence that reassorted HPAI H5 viruses descended from the recently emerged Eurasian H5N8 subtype (H5 clade 2.3.4.4) have the ability to infect humans.

            These are, however, early days.

            And as new reassortants appear, and evolve, their behaviors and properties can sometimes change. Something our own CDC took notice of a little over a week ago, when they published interim guidance (see hereand here) on testing and managing individuals potentially exposed to novel (H5 or H7) avian flu. They wrote:
            The appearance of newly detected avian influenza A H5 viruses in North America may increase the likelihood of human infection with these viruses in the United States. Because these newly identified avian influenza A H5 viruses are related to avian influenza A viruses associated with severe disease in humans (e.g., highly pathogenic Asian-lineage avian influenza A (H5N1) virus), they should be regarded as having the potential to cause severe disease in humans until shown otherwise
            Of course, it is perfectly possible that H5N8 derived viruses – like the H5N2 viruses we’ve seen in the past – pose very little threat to human health. But to assume such based on a very a limited track record would be folly. The reason that H5 and H7 avian viruses are reportable to the OIE is because of their track record of quickly changing as they passage through birds.

            For now, however, the big risk is to poultry operations.
            Unlike in Asia and the Middle East, which have endured heavy avian flu losses for more than a decade, North American poultry producers have not had to deal with these highly pathogenic H5 viruses. If one or more of these subtypes (or future reassortants from them) manages to become endemic in North American birds - and that may already be happening - the risks to the industry will only escalate.


            Posted by Michael Coston at 7:22 AM
            Labels: British Columbia, H5N1, North America, reassortment

            http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2015/0...ard-flock.html




            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
            -Nelson Mandela

            Comment


            • #7
              Highly pathogenic avian influenza,
              Canada
              Information received on 07/02/2015 from Dr Martine Dubuc, OIE Delegate for Canada, Chief Food Safety Officer Vice-President, Science Branch, Health Ministry, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Canada
              Summary
              Report type Immediate notification
              Date of start of the event 02/02/2015
              Date of pre-confirmation of the event 02/02/2015
              Report date 06/02/2015
              Date submitted to OIE 07/02/2015
              Reason for notification New strain of a listed disease
              Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
              Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
              Serotype H5N1
              Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
              This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
              New outbreaks (1)
              Outbreak 1 (BC-2015-NAI-NC2) Chilliwack, BRITISH COLUMBIA
              Date of start of the outbreak 02/02/2015
              Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
              Epidemiological unit Backyard
              Affected animals
              Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
              Birds 94 94 81 13 0
              Affected population BC-2015-NAI-NC2 Non-commercial semi-confinement chicken laying hens.
              Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
              Total animals affected
              Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
              Birds 94 94 81 13 0
              Outbreak statistics
              Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
              Birds 100.00% 86.17% 86.17% 100.00%
              *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
              Epidemiology
              Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
              • Unknown or inconclusive
              • Contact with wild species
              Epidemiological comments This new outbreak was detected in a backyard poultry flock in the Avian Influenza Primary Control Zone (PCZ) in the province of British Columbia (BC), in the same area as the previous outbreaks of HPAI H5N2 reported in December 2014. All susceptible animals on site were humanely destroyed. The National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (CFIA - Winnipeg) reported NAI H5 RRT-PCR positive results on 4 February 2015 and partial sequencing of H5 and N1 segments on 5 February. The virus involved is a HPAI H5N1 virus with the H5 gene segment derived from the Eurasian lineage, and N1 derived from North American lineage based on partial sequence. The H5 gene segment is very similar to the reassortant H5N2 in BC and the H5 in the H5N1 reassortant virus detected in a wild green-winged teal just south of the border in Washington State, USA. In addition, the N1 gene segment is very similar to North American wild bird viruses and nearly identical, over the very small fragment sequenced this far, to the N1 in the H5N1 virus detected in a green-winged teal mentioned above. Based on the limited partial sequence of the H5 and N1 gene segments obtained this far, it appears very likely that this is the same or a very similar virus to the recent reassortant H5N1 virus in Washington State but more sequencing will be needed to make a final conclusion. This virus has NOT been reported in any commercial poultry flock in Canada. It is important to note this HPAI H5N1 virus is different from the strain circulating in Asia. It is a reassortant virus with the N1 from a North American wild bird virus. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) continues to monitor the situation and implement strict movement restrictions in the PCZ. Ongoing surveillance is in place in all of Canada. All provinces, with the exception of the PCZ in British Columbia, remain free of Notifiable Avian Influenza in poultry.
              Control measures
              Measures applied
              • Stamping out
              • Quarantine
              • Movement control inside the country
              • Screening
              • Zoning
              • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
              • Vaccination prohibited
              • No treatment of affected animals
              Measures to be applied
              • No other measures
              Diagnostic test results
              Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
              Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture (Local laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 02/02/2015 Positive
              National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (National laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 04/02/2015 Positive
              National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (National laboratory) Birds virus sequencing 05/02/2015 Positive
              Future Reporting
              The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

              .../
              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
              -Nelson Mandela

              Comment

              Working...
              X