Announcement

**Shiloh** · December 23, 2021, 06:32 AM

Source: https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-.../1640207916934

Statement: Detection of high pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Newfoundland and Labrador 2021

December 22, 2022

On December 20, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of high pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI), subtype H5N1, at a multi-species exhibition farm in the Avalon Peninsula on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador. This exhibition farm does not produce birds for sale.

As the infected birds were located on an exhibition farm, and no other cases resembling Avian Influenza have been reported in the vicinity of the farm, Canada's status as 'free from AI' remains in place in accordance with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidance.

Avian Influenza circulates naturally in avian fauna and recent detections of high pathogenic AI in Europe indicate an even higher risk of the disease in North American poultry flocks this year. This makes it more important than ever for anyone raising poultry to remain vigilant against AI and ensure they have effective biosecurity measures in place. Biosecurity is a key tool for preventing the transmission of this disease to North American farm birds.

While this detection should have no impact on trade, it does serve as a strong reminder that Avian Influenza is spreading across the globe, and that anyone with farm animals must practice good biosecurity habits. Meanwhile, officials from the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the CFIA, and the owner of the infected birds are working closely together to manage this particular situation.

Resources are available for producers and owners of backyard flocks and pet birds:

Quick Facts

Initial tests for the disease were conducted on December 16, 2021 by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, after the farm experienced sudden deaths of birds over several days.
In an abundance of caution, the CFIA has placed the farm under quarantine and established a 10 km zone with movement control measures and enhanced biosecurity to limit any potential spread of the disease.
The CFIA has advised the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of the outbreak. As the infected birds were located on an exhibition farm, the detection is considered a non-poultry detection according to the OIE definition. Canada's animal health status as 'free from AI' remains in place. No trade restrictions are anticipated as a result of this detection.
The CFIA reminds poultry producers to remain vigilant and to apply biosecurity measures at all times. For more information on avian influenza and measures poultry farms can take to protect their flocks, please visit the Avian Influenza page on the CFIA website.

**sharon sanders** · December 23, 2021, 08:03 AM

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**Pathfinder** · January 7, 2022, 04:19 PM

Translation Google

Hundreds of birds have died from bird flu on a farm in NL.

The farm in question, located in Saint-Jean, housed a large number of species, including peacocks, ducks, geese and chickens.

Patrick butler
10:35 a.m.

Hundreds of birds with avian flu died last month on a farm in St. John's, Newfoundland. Experts fear the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that ravages birds in Europe and Asia is spreading to North America.

It's a real tragedy , says farmer Jim Lester , whose show farm is home to a large number of species, including peacocks, ducks, geese and chickens. All birds were quarantined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) shortly after the virus was detected.

There is a small lake on the farm where there are often wild ducks. We believe this is where our domestic birds got infected , says Lester . They didn't really have any symptoms, but it hit the hens in particular. There were a lot of deaths, more than usual. It was then that I contacted the provincial vets.

Avian influenza has already killed hundreds of humans around the world, but there is no indication for the moment that the strain discovered in Newfoundland represents a risk to human health, according to experts consulted by Radio-Canada .

There is no indication that it could be a zoonotic strain, that is, a strain that could cause problems in humans , says Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, an expert in infectious disease. poultry from the University of Montreal.

It would take close contact, like opening dead birds and playing in their guts or getting contaminated with droppings. It is not a trivial contact that it takes to become infected with this virus as a human being.

Farms tighten biosecurity measures

The risks are much greater for domestic birds, points out Professor Andrew Lang , an avian influenza specialist at Memorial University. However, he explains that some birds can contract the virus without showing symptoms.

There can be a lot of infections in mallards. 100% of a pond's population could be infected, for example, but no bird would have died and no bird would have symptoms. If a flock of hens contracts it, on the other hand, it is quite possible that the birds will die , he explains.

Farms in Newfoundland, including poultry farmer Country Ribbon , say they are tightening biosecurity measures.

It is a virus which is respiratory, but it is also enteric, so it is found in droppings , indicates Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt. I would tell you that if I were a poultry farmer in Newfoundland now, I would insist a lot on ensuring that the biosecurity rules are respected by people who enter the farms.

If there is a way for this virus, which is now formally in wild birds in Newfoundland, to come in and be in contact with domestic birds, which are obviously all inside at this time of the year, it would be for the boots.

First case in Newfoundland detected on November 26

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says it has detected a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a black-backed gull collected at Lake Mundy Pond , in Saint-Jean, on November 26. Four weeks later, on December 20, theCanadian Food Inspection AgencyCFIA has confirmed the presence of the disease at Lester Farm .

The agency has established a 10 km zone around the farm, where it exercises control over the movement of animals, people and equipment.

Since this discovery, the Canadian Wildlife Health Network and Environment and Climate Change Canada ECCC are monitoring wild birds in the area by examining samples of dead and live birds , a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection AgencyCFIA , in a statement toCanadian Broadcasting CorporationCBC .

With many cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported in Europe last year, wild migratory waterfowl may have been the source of the virus in the Avalon Peninsula.

Devastating effects in North America?

Andrew Lang notes that migratory birds from Europe and North America spend part of the year in Newfoundland, so the strain detected on the island could soon end up elsewhere in North America.

It is a virus that could have devastating effects in North America. It has already killed tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of wild birds in Europe, Asia and Africa, and it has caused serious problems in the poultry industry , he explains.

Avian influenza has not been reported in Canada since 2015. When a case is detected, breeders should immediately contact provincial, federal and international authorities.

It is still a virus that we know well , says Carl Gagnon, professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Montreal. We know all the biosecurity measures that can be taken to control infections and the spread of the virus. In the past, our government agencies have also had to deal with similar situations.

We have always managed to control it until now.

Carl Gagnon recommends that residents protect their domestic birds by avoiding contact with wild birds.

With information from Mark Quinn of CBC

Patrick butler

Des centaines d’oiseaux sont morts de la grippe aviaire dans une ferme à T.-N.-L.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1852225/grippe-aviaire-terre-neuve-virus-h5n1

Des experts craignent que la souche hautement pathogène H5N1 se propage en Amérique du Nord.

**sharon sanders** · January 8, 2022, 11:05 AM

bump this

Announcement

Canada - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in birds in an exhibition farm, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador (OIE, December 22, 2021)

Canada - 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in birds in an exhibition farm, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador (OIE, December 22, 2021)

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