Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on 2nd Turkey Farm

[Shiloh]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/Health/Half+turkeys+infected+with+avian+killed+today/1219979/story.html

Half of turkeys infected with avian flu to be killed today
By Amy O'Brian, Vancouver SunJanuary 26, 2009 2:02 PM

METRO VANCOUVER -- Half of the turkeys infected with avian flu at an Abbotsford farm are expected to be killed later today, with the remainder scheduled to be killed Tuesday.

Sandra Stephens, a veterinary program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said the birds at E & H Farms will be destroyed in two batches, using carbon dioxide gas.

There are about 25,000 birds in each of two barns on the property.

Stephens said the two flocks will be killed separately because of the high quantities of gas required to flood the barns, and the staff needed to oversee the procedure.

Tests conducted late last week by the CFIA confirmed that birds on the farm were carrying a strain of the virus that could become highly pathogenic.

Farms within a three-kilometre radius of E & H were put under quarantine and will remain so for three weeks after the cull is complete.

Stephens said there has been no indication that the virus has spread to birds on other farms, but the CFIA will continue with ?dead bird testing? for the duration of the quarantine.

Dead bird testing is when producers collect up to five birds that have died in their barns ? ideally, within the last five or six hours ? and make them available for onsite testing by the CFIA.

After today and tomorrow?s cullings, the 50,000 birds will be composted in two stages ? the first taking place inside the barn where they are killed to avoid any airborne spread of the virus to other farms.

The carcasses will be mixed with wood shavings and left in the barn for seven to 10 days, where temperatures in the core of the compost will reach up to 50 degrees Celsius.

After that, the partly composted birds will be moved outside the barn, covered in sawdust or straw and allowed to fully decompose until the mixture eventually becomes usable soil.

Asked how confident she is that the virus has been contained, Stephens erred on the side of caution. ?This is a very unpredictable virus,? she said.

In 2004, an avian flu outbreak in the Fraser Valley led to the culling of 17 million birds.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

This is the response in the US across the border:

Source: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/770388.html

Whatcom County birds to be tested for avian flu
ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

The discovery of the H5 avian influenza virus in turkeys just over the border has prompted state officials to step up testing on local birds.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking 13 Whatcom County farms that regularly send in eggs for testing to send an additional batch to be tested for avian flu antibodies, said department communications director Jason Kelly.

"We're going to actively monitor eggs produced in Whatcom County," he said.

Washington state has never had a confirmed case of avian flu, and Kelly said he doesn't expect it to cross the border in this case. State veterinarians have been in contact with their counterparts in Canada as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to figure out the best plan to keep the state's poultry safe.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, avian influenza virus was confirmed on a commercial turkey farm in Abbotsford, B.C., and as many as 60,000 birds could be euthanized because of the disease.

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is moving quickly to contain the disease in Canada," Kelly said. "(British Columbia) has been though similar depopulation of poultry before, in April 2004, and that was a more widespread issue, but it never came across (the border)."

The virus doesn't affect food safety when it is killed by proper cooking and handling, Kelly said. It very rarely affects humans, unless they have been in close contact with infected birds.

The virus found Sunday in Abbotsford is a weak, low pathogenic strain, unlike the deadly H7N4 virus that killed or caused the destruction of 17 million birds in 2004.

Though this strain is not as strong, now is still the time for bird owners to be vigilant, Kelly said. They need to keep an eye out for symptoms of the virus in their birds, such as a drop in egg production, sneezing and other respiratory system problems. Bird owners should make sure to use proper sanitation, washing their hands and equipment and changing clothes after coming in contact with their birds.

"The message is that bird owners need to keep a close eye on their birds," he said. "And if they do see signs of illness in their birds, they need to report it to the state veterinary office."

Any bird owners who suspect their flock may be affected by the virus should call the state's avian hotline at 1 (800) 606-3056.

 

[Mamabird]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

"Washington state has never had a confirmed case of avian flu, and Kelly said he doesn't expect it to cross the border in this case. State veterinarians have been in contact with their counterparts in Canada as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to figure out the best plan to keep the state's poultry safe."

Perhaps not, but the following link shows that H5 and N1 were deteceted in Clark County, WA in November. Testing underway.

http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai/LPAITable.pdf

 

[Commonground]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Thanks Mamabird. It seems to to me, they do not update their files?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

"Washington state has never had a confirmed case of avian flu, and Kelly said he doesn't expect it to cross the border in this case. State veterinarians have been in contact with their counterparts in Canada as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture to figure out the best plan to keep the state's poultry safe."

Perhaps not, but the following link shows that H5 and N1 were deteceted in Clark County, WA in November. Testing underway.

http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/ai/LPAITable.pdf

Thanks for the link. I'll pass it on to bird-hunters.

How can the test in September be positive for H5 and N1, yet have "no virus isolated"?

Did they do an RT-PCR test, but were unable to do full sequence testing?

.

 

[cartski]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

In the Regina Beach H7 outbreak in Sept 2007, the farm was located next to Last Mountain Lake, a major staging area for migratory birds, and commonly know as "The Duck Factory of North America" with 25 % mallard population.

Do we know if there is a similar situation in Abbotsford?

Also in the Regina Beach outbreak, US border personal immediately seized all hunted birds that were being transported back to the US. Presumeably this was a directive of some sort, so a paper trail or public announcements should have happened. Have we any indication that such controls have been implemented at the BC/US border?

J.

 

[Mamabird]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

AD:

"How can the test in September be positive for H5 and N1, yet have "no virus isolated"?

Did they do an RT-PCR test, but were unable to do full sequence testing?"

The first tests conducted on the WA samples collected were likely rapid tests which can detect H5 and N1 components of an avian virus. That doesn't mean that it is an H5N1 virus, but that both genes were found in one or more viruses. If a reasonable measurement of the H5 gene was available, it would be an early indication of High or Low path, since highly pathogenic viruses have muntiple basic amino acids at the clevage site, and therefore are longer than low path varieties.

Virus isolation and sequencing, which takes more time and is not always successful, would be the next logical step with the goal to confirm that the virus is H5. If it is H5 and has a suspect clevage site, they would perform more tests to nail down pathogenicity. If the viurus is not H5 or H7, they would likely not bother doing any further work.

My suspecion is that once they are fairly certain that the AI found is Low Path, they are not in any hurry to do much else.

My point in the initial response was that avian influenza was likely detected in WA, despite the comment to the contrary. Further, H5 viruses are difficult to detect. You have to really want to find them, and look long and hard for the infected birds. I'm not aware of any agency so motivated at present.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Source: http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_012709WAB-bird-flu-testing-SW.d0ef348.html

State steps up bird testing in Whatcom County
05:53 PM PST on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
By ROB PIERCY / KING 5 News
Video
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Testing begins this week to make sure an outbreak of bird flu in Canada hasn't spread to Washington state.

Last weekend, the virus was found in birds at a turkey farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia, just across the border.

How could birds in Whatcom County have been exposed to a virus 30 miles away in Canada?

"It's easily transmitted through the wild fowl. The wild fowl are the reservoir for this virus and it can spread pretty quickly and it can surprise you,? said Dr. Paul Kohrs with the Department of Agriculture.

For instance, migrating Canada geese could have been exposed at the farm in Abbotsford, then flew south into Whatcom County and exposed poultry here.

There has never been a documented case of avian flu found in poultry in Washington state. If it were found, it would mean a shutdown of poultry exports that could cripple the industry.

On the Canadian side, 60,000 turkeys at the Abbotsford farm are being euthanized to prevent the spread of the virus.

In very rare instances, people can contract avian flu, but that usually requires prolonged exposure to "live" infected birds.

The bottom line is that agriculture officials say they need to do these tests, but people really don't need to worry.

If chicken or turkey sick with avian flu ever made it into a grocery store cooler, the virus would likely already be dead and cooking the bird would destroy any that remains.

Results of some of the tests should be done by Thursday.

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Canada. British Columbia to extend bird flu quarantine

B.C. to extend bird flu quarantine

Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -

One more Abbotsford-area farm has been placed under quarantine and more could be flagged in the coming days as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to monitor an outbreak of avian flu.


Twenty-three farms were initially under quarantine because they are within a three-kilometre radius of E & H farms, where government officials Saturday confirmed the presence of the virus.

But CFIA disease control specialist Sandra Stephens said an additional property has been added to the list because it's been determined there was "significant contact" between it and the affected property.

"We're still working on tracing movement to and from the infected premises," Stephens said on Tuesday. "So as we're working our way through those we may identify others that will need to be placed under quarantine."

Stephens said the quarantined barns will be tested for the presence of the virus for at least three weeks.

"So far, we're all negative on all the other tests that we have done," she said.

Stephens said the last of the 60,000 turkeys at the infected property were slated to be killed with carbon dioxide gas Tuesday.

The bodies will be composted inside the barns and monitored to ensure the virus is rendered inactive.

After seven to 10 days, Stephens said the carcasses will be removed from the barn to complete the composting process.

Meanwhile, she said testing continues at a CFIA laboratory to confirm the pathogenicity, sub-type and strain of the virus. Those results should be known within days.

In 2004, an outbreak of avian influenza led to the killing of 17 million birds in B.C., the largest animal cull in Canadian history.

Avian flu rarely spreads to humans unless the person has had repeated close contact with infected birds.

Abbotsford is about 75 kilometres southeast of Vancouver.

With files from Canwest News Service
-
​

<cite cite="http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=1224363">B.C. to extend bird flu quarantine</cite>

 

[cartski]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Abbotsford bird flu quarantine expands as farmers calculate losses
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 | 10:17 AM PT Comments1Recommend2CBC News
The number of farms under quarantine in the Fraser Valley is growing because of concerns over avian flu, as farmers raise their own concerns that compensation for destroyed birds will fall far short of their losses.

Two more farms outside of the three-kilometre quarantine zone around E & H Farms in Abbotsford, B.C., have been cordoned off, raising the total number of affected farms to 26.

Sandra Stephens, a disease control specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the two new farms have been quarantined as a precaution after someone there had contact with the E & H farm.

"We are trying to uncover all possible stones that might reveal where potentially this virus came from and where potentially it could be taken to," said Stephens.

Quarantine could expand further
So far, tests on the other farms are negative, but that could change.

"People should not be too surprised in the coming days ? we may have others," said Stephans.

CFIA officials still believe the avian flu found on the E & H farm was low pathogenic, or less deadly, but tests are continuing to determine the full subtype and pathogenicity of the virus. Results should be known within days, they said.

There are multiple subtypes of H5 avian flu and the agency has cautioned that the presence of H5 virus does not mean there is an outbreak of the H5N1 virus that has killed nearly 250 people in Asia, Africa and Europe after surfacing in Asia in late 2003.

In 2004, millions of birds died or were destroyed in the Fraser Valley from an outbreak caused by a "high path" H7N3 virus. The Fraser Valley experienced an H5N2 outbreak in November 2005.

Cull devastating for farm
Meanwhile, the two brothers who operate separate businesses on the E & H Farms property say the financial fallout of having 60,000 of their turkeys destroyed after the outbreak was detected on their property is devastating.

Shawn Heppel said he and his brother, Mike, will be without cash flow until late August due to the cull.

"It's three months minimum before we can start up again and four months after that until birds can be sold," Heppel said as CFIA personnel completed the destruction of the turkeys at the farm on Tuesday.

"So, we're looking at seven months without cash flow."

Workers with the agency began destroying the birds Monday by sealing the two barns on property near Abbotsford and flooding them with carbon dioxide.

The turkeys were ordered destroyed following the discovery last week of an H5 virus. The virus was detected only in Mike Heppell's barn, but all the birds in both barns still had to be destroyed.

The brothers would have received about $1.1 million had they been able to sell the fully grown birds at market, Shawn Heppel said.

Compensation is available under provisions of the federal Health of Animals Act, but the CFIA has already told him their compensation will be nowhere near that, he said.

Compensation disagreements
A spokesman for the B.C. Poultry Association said earlier that there are disagreements between the industry and the government about how compensation is calculated.

There are compensation programs through the provincial Agriculture Ministry, "but those usually pay out a year later, and they're usually a nickel on the dollar kind of program," Shawn Heppel said.

He said the outbreak has caused a lot of grief but likely won't mean the end of their farms.

"We've been in business a long time, and this probably isn't going to put us out of business, but it's a big kick in the pants."

With files from the Canadian Press

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/28/bc-farm-quarantine-expands.html

 

[cartski]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Health of Animals Act ( 1990, c. 21 )

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/H-3.3/bo-ga:s_51//en#anchorbo-ga:s_51

COMPENSATION
Compensation to owners of animals

51. (1) The Minister may order compensation to be paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the owner of an animal that is

(a) destroyed under this Act or is required by an inspector or officer to be destroyed under this Act and dies after the requirement is imposed but before being destroyed;

(b) injured in the course of being tested, treated or identified under this Act by an inspector or officer and dies, or is required to be destroyed, as a result of the injury; or

(c) reserved for experimentation under paragraph 13(2)(a).

Amount of compensation

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the amount of compensation shall be
(a) the market value, as determined by the Minister, that the animal would have had at the time of its evaluation by the Minister if it had not been required to be destroyed
minus

(b) the value of its carcass, as determined by the Minister.

Maximum value

(3) The value mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) shall not exceed any maximum amount established with respect to the animal by or under the regulations.
Additional compensation
(4) In addition to the amount calculated under subsection (2), compensation may include such costs related to the disposal of the animal as are permitted by the regulations.
1990, c. 21, s. 51; 1997, c. 6, s. 69.

Emphasis added.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

January 28, 2009

• <LI class=doubleLineBullet>The humane destruction of approximately 60,000 birds has been completed on the premises in British Columbia where H5 avian influenza was detected. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>People are rarely affected by avian influenza, except in a limited number of cases when individuals were in close contact with infected birds. Nevertheless, public health authorities have taken precautionary measures as warranted. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>Federal and provincial animal welfare experts, along with a representative from the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (BC SPCA), were on hand to oversee the euthanasia process. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>The carcasses are being composted inside the barns, and temperatures are being monitored to ensure the virus is effectively inactive. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>These procedures are consistent with provincial environmental regulations and internationally accepted disease control guidelines. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>Twenty-two other poultry operations within the three-kilometre radius around the infected farm remain under quarantine and are being closely monitored for signs of illness. <LI class=doubleLineBullet>Another farm outside the three-kilometre radius which is linked to the index premises through previous equipment movement remains under quarantine.
• To date, all other commercial flocks tested within the three-kilometre surveillance zone, for both marketing and surveillance purposes, have been negative for avian influenza. Surveillance testing will continue weekly for a twenty-one day period.

<HR>January 26, 2009

Avian Influenza Response Continues in British Columbia

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has started the humane euthanization of approximately 60,000 birds on the infected premises in British Columbia where H5 avian influenza has been confirmed.

• News Release - Avian Influenza Response Continues in British Columbia http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2009/20090124e.shtml

<HR>January 24, 2009

Avian Influenza Detected in British Columbia

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza virus in a commercial poultry operation in southern British Columbia. Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds. Tests to date indicate that the strain of AI in this case is low pathogenic. Further testing is underway to confirm pathogenicity and to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus.

• News Release - Avian Influenza Detected In British Columbia

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/avflu/situatione.shtml

 

[cartski]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Other bird flocks may be spared
Tests ongoing, but 24 quarantined farms near outbreak all show negative results, so far

Kent Spencer
The Province

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=99579f4f-4c47-4d58-9186-7a7af862a1ca

Thursday, January 29, 2009


Fraser Valley farmers worried about the threat of avian flu received some good news yesterday.

The first round of tests at 24 Abbotsford farms came back "all negative," said Ray Nickel, president of the B.C. Poultry Association.

"If the outbreak is isolated at one farm, it would be a successful outcome," said Nickel. "I sense a certain amount of relief among the farmers."

Dr. Sandra Stephens of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said additional tests will be conducted for the next three weeks.

"There is no evidence of an active infection at this time, but it's possible the flu could be circulating at a very slow rate," said Stephens, a disease-control specialist sent to Abbotsford from Saskatoon.

The flu virus usually takes four to five days to show itself; tests have been conducted since the outbreak was detected seven days ago at E&H Farms on Lefeuvre Road in Abbotsford, where almost 60,000 turkeys have been destroyed.

Twenty-four other farms in a three-kilometre radius have since been tested and quarantined with large orange signs warning, "Avian Influenza Measures in Effect." The flu is believed to be a type not easily transferable to humans.

Nickel said farmers have been anguished while awaiting the fate of their birds.

In 2004, 17 million chickens were culled in the Fraser Valley, the largest cull in Canadian history.

"We have a heightened sense of anxiety because of what happened in 2004," said Nickel. "Many of these farms were depopulated.

"These are significant businesses and there are significant risks incurred by this. Most of us are highly leveraged with the banks. Chests get a little tighter."

Flocks culled in 2004 included Nickel's. He estimated the value of his chickens at $700,000 to $800,000, only partly covered by compensation and insurance. One farm was out of production for two years.

There is no cost estimate for E&H's culled turkeys because not all the birds were mature. Nickel said a mature bird sells for about $20.

The Vancouver Humane Society, meanwhile, said the Fraser Valley's third flu outbreak in five years should have been expected.

Leanne McConnachie said keeping large numbers of birds in closed facilities is "a breeding ground for disease."

"It allows disease to spread quickly and mutation of the virus to occur," said McConnachie, director of the society's farm-animal program.

"If the animals weren't so close together, the bacteria wouldn't have a chance to take hold," she said.

She said the society is still concerned about the carbon-dioxide gas used to kill the birds. "Studies with rats and mice have shown it is quite painful, a slow asphyxiation. There are quicker methods," she said.

kspencer@theprovince.com

? The Vancouver Province 2009

 

[cartski]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

B.C. academics seem to have been well prepared, after the 2004 outbreak, for another one:

http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/avian_research/conference.htm

A very nice overview and summary presentation from this conference:

http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/avian_research/documents/Andrew Larder.ppt

A rather funny and serious presentation of the wild bird, poultry link:

http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/avian_research/documents/Ron Ydenberg.ppt#1

J.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Two more farms under quarantine

Christina Toth, The Times

Published: Friday, January 30, 2009

Two more poultry farms have been quarantined in a measure to prevent the spread of an avian influenza virus, bringing the number of farms under quarantine to 26.

The sites are being closely monitored for signs of illness.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency disease specialist Dr. Sandra Stephens said the step was taken after investigators learned someone who had been on the farms also had contact with the E & H farm.

Last week, CFIA officials confirmed that an H5 strain avian influenza virus had infected 60,000 turkeys of various ages in one barn at the E & H Farms.

The two new farms under quarantine are outside the original three-kilometre restricted area, and more sites may be added, Stephens warned.
"We are trying to uncover all possible stones that might reveal where potentially this virus came from and where potentially it could be taken to," Stephens told media on Wednesday.

This particular strain of virus is not considered to be highly pathogenic or infectious, but CFIA ordered the flocks, owned by Shawn and Mike Heppel, to be destroyed.

The birds were humanely euthanized with carbon dioxide on Monday and Tuesday, the CFIA reports. Federal and provincial animal welfare experts, along with a representative from the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (BC SPCA), were in attendance to oversee the process.

To date, all the commercial flocks tested within the three-kilometre surveillance zone - for both marketing and surveillance purposes - have been negative for avian influenza. Surveillance testing will continue weekly for a 21-day period, the CFIA reports.

http://www.canada.com/abbotsfordtimes/news/story.html?id=8a008cb1-eb9d-435f-9735-85b11c55df88

 

[Diane Morin]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Tests show avian flu local to lone B.C. farm

Updated Sat. Jan. 31 2009 11:12 AM ET
The Canadian Press

<!-- dateline -->VANCOUVER<!-- /dateline --> -- Avian flu found on one Fraser Valley turkey farm has not spread to any other farms in the quarantine area.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says so far all commercial flocks have tested negative in the three-kilometre quarantine zone set up to stop a virus from spreading.

Authorities had to destroy 60,000 turkeys earlier this week at a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., and the birds carcasses are being composed with in the barns to prevent further spread of the virus.

The H5 virus was discovered in some of the birds in one barn on the farm.
Further tests that would indicate how virulent the virus strain is still have not been completed.

The agency says additional quarantines may be set up as the investigation continues.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090131/avian_flu_090131/20090131?hub=SciTech

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

The Canadian Press: Experts can't explain three avian flu outbreaks in B.C.'s Fraser Valley

Experts can't explain three avian flu outbreaks in B.C.'s Fraser Valley

VANCOUVER, B.C. ?

Three of four of the most recent avian flu outbreaks in Canada have broken out in British Columbia's Fraser Valley but despite years of trying to figure it out, they still can't explain why the valley attracts the virus.


In the latest outbreak, 60,000 turkeys were culled on an Abbotsford, B.C., farm last week.

Tests so far indicate the virus has not spread to any other poultry producers within a three-kilometre quarantine zone.

That wasn't the case in the valley's first outbreak in 2004 when an H7-type flu transformed into a highly contagious strain.

Farm after farm was quarantined until finally about 15 million birds - almost the entire valley poultry population - was destroyed.

The second Fraser Valley outbreak in November 2005 saw two duck farms infected with the H5N2 strain of the virus.

In 2007, a highly pathogenic H7N3 strain was found in Saskatchewan on a farm that produced hatching eggs to produce broiler chickens.

Experts have difficulty explaining why the Fraser Valley has been hit so often but there are theories.

"We're on the Pacific flyway so there are lots of birds passing through every year," says Ron Lewis, the chief veterinary officer for British Columbia.

"And we know wild waterfowl carry a variety of different strains of avian influenza."

People can easily walk over the areas where wild waterfowl have been.

"And we know avian influenza has some capability of aerosol transmission," he says.

Lewis and Sandra Stephens, veterinary program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, suspect the main culprits are the wild birds moving throughout North America and the world on migratory flyways.

Avian influenza virus is prolific and when wild waterfowl have it "they shed tremendous numbers of viral particles."

"All these birds when they get to their summer or wintering grounds they co-mingle," says Stephens.

And North American flyways are not completely isolated from others.

"Although you tend to think of the North American flyways as being separate from Europe and Asia, in fact there is some crossover in the northern breeding grounds," she says.

The huge concentration of commercial poultry producers in the Fraser Valley is also a factor in the spread.

Any poultry producer faces being exposed to migratory birds.

"But where we have more concerns are areas like the Fraser Valley or the Niagara Peninsula where there are large concentrations of poultry farms close together," says Stephens.

Calvin Breukelman of the B.C. Poultry Association estimates there are about 600 poultry producers in the Fraser Valley in an industry worth close to $1 billion.

Such concentration occurred for obvious economic reasons: close access to a large market.

"In an ideal world we of course wouldn't have this concentration but it's not ideal and we have to do whatever we can to reduce the impact of that concentration," says Lewis.

Perhaps the biggest worry facing producers and the general population is the likelihood of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus that killed hundreds of people in Asia, Africa and Europe occurring here.

Lewis suggests it's highly unlikely.

In countries where H5N1 occurred there are very close living conditions between poultry and people, he says.

"We don't have that kind of proximity to wild and commercial ducks co-habiting in many cases that is present in those countries," he says.

Moreover, Lewis says, the intense biosecurity measures introduced in Canada after the 2004 Fraser Valley outbreak are not practised in many of those countries.

"We now have a mandatory biosecurity program in place for all of the commercially-regulated poultry industry," he says.

"The industry has achieved a very high level of compliance with those biosecurity protocols," says Lewis, estimating the compliance rate at about 98 per cent of the industry.

Initial testing for avian viruses also can now be done in Abbotsford.

"So we have eliminated the delays in having to ship samples for testing at the federal lab," says Lewis.

Poultry producers in the Fraser Valley are still awaiting tests on the latest outbreak determining how contagious the virus may be.

"It sometimes can take a number of weeks to get the result," says Stephens.

The presence of H5 virus has been established but its specificity, or neuraminidase subtype which is the N in the virus name, isn't known yet.

That H5 virus was detected in some turkeys on a property owned by two brothers last month.

The avian flu has many different sub types with 16 different H's, or hemagglutinin, and nine different N's, meaning there are 144 possible combinations of the flu virus.

The virus must be grown in a lab culture and the latest sample has taken longer than expected.

"Some viruses grow (in a lab culture) more readily than others and there's no way of knowing which virus will grow quicker than another," says Stephens.
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​

<cite cite="http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h9dxZhZJVQMtONscHXD4E7Oy9EGQ">The Canadian Press: Experts can't explain three avian flu outbreaks in B.C.'s Fraser Valley</cite>

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008695469_apcanadabirdflu.html


Washington state increases bird-flu tests after outbreaks in British Columbia

Three of four of the latest avian flu outbreaks in Canada have been in the Fraser Valley. As a precaution, the Washington Department of Agriculture has increased tests for the virus at 13 farms in Whatcom County.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ?

Three of four of the latest avian flu outbreaks in Canada have been in the Fraser Valley, possibly because of the region's popularity with migratory waterfowl, experts say.

In the latest outbreak, that H5 strain of the virus was detected in some turkeys on a property owned by two brothers last month and 60,000 turkeys were culled on an Abbotsford farm last week.

Tests indicate the virus has not spread to any other poultry producers within a quarantine zone of about two miles, but the Washington Department of Agriculture increased tests for the virus at 13 farms in Whatcom County, a few miles to the south, as a precaution.

Washington has never had a confirmed case of bird flu, even in 2004, when the Fraser Valley was hit by a highly contagious H7-type flu. Farm after farm was quarantined and in the end about 15 million birds - almost the entire poultry population in the valley - was destroyed.

In the second Fraser Valley outbreak, two duck farms were infected with the H5N2 strain of the virus in November 2005.

Canada's only bird flu outbreak outside the region was in 2007, when a highly pathogenic H7N3 strain was found in Saskatchewan on a farm that produced hatching eggs to produce broiler chickens.

Ronald J. Lewis, the province's chief veterinary officer, and Sandra Stephens, veterinary program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, suspect the culprits in British Columbia are mainly migratory birds.

"We're on the Pacific flyway, so there are lots of birds passing through every year," Lewis said, "and we know wild waterfowl carry a variety of different strains of avian influenza."

In addition, people can easily walk over the areas where wild waterfowl have been, Lewis adds, "and we know avian influenza has some capability of aerosol transmission."

Avian influenza virus is prolific and when wild waterfowl have it "they shed tremendous numbers of viral particles," Stephens said. "All these birds, when they get to their summer or wintering grounds, they co-mingle."

Nor are North America's flyways altogether isolated, she added.

"Although you tend to think of the North American flyways as being separate from Europe and Asia, in fact there is some crossover in the northern breeding grounds," Stephens said.

The concentration of commercial poultry producers in the Fraser Valley is also a factor in the outbreaks, she added.

Although any poultry producer can be exposed to migratory birds, "where we have more concerns are areas like the Fraser Valley or the Niagara Peninsula where there are large concentrations of poultry farms close together," she said.

Calvin Breukelman of the British Columbia Poultry Association estimates there are about 600 poultry producers in the Fraser Valley, an industry worth close to $1 billion Canadian, chiefly because of the proximity to the Vancouver metropolitan area.

"In an ideal world we of course wouldn't have this concentration, but it's not ideal and we have to do whatever we can to reduce the impact of that concentration," Lewis said.

Despite the outbreaks, Lewis said it was highly unlikely that the region would be hit with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus that killed hundreds of people in Asia, Africa and Europe.

"We don't have that kind of proximity (of large numbers of humans) to wild and commercial ducks, cohabiting in many cases, that is present in those countries," he said.

He also cited prevention measures adopted by Canada after the 2004 outbreak. He estimated compliance at about 98 percent of the industry.

Initial testing for avian viruses can now be done in Abbotsford, "so we have eliminated the delays in having to ship samples for testing at the federal lab," Lewis added.

Fraser Valley poultry producers are awaiting tests to determining how contagious the virus in the latest outbreak may be. Results may be weeks away, Stephens said.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Washington has never had a confirmed case of bird flu

Another version of this story and comments regarding the above statement are at:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93004


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[Shiloh]

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Re: Canada - LPAI H5 Confirmed on Turkey Farm

Source: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/580715

More B.C. poultry operations under quarantine in hunt for avian flu

Feb 01, 2009 07:04 PM

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER?The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has quarantined several more poultry operations in the Fraser Valley after an avian flu outbreak forced the slaughter of 60,000 turkeys last month.

The watchdog agency says there are now 36 premises under quarantine, including seven more outside the three-kilometre radius of the infected turkey barn and two inside that radius.

The newly quarantined buildings were identified as a result of an assessment of the movement of people, products and equipment.

The agency says all the flocks under surveillance have tested negative for the avian influenza virus but adds monitoring and testing will continue.

Meanwhile, the agency says in-barn composting is underway at the two barns where the H5 strain of the virus was first detected.

This is the third avian-flu outbreak in the Fraser Valley in the last few years ? a frequency scientists believe is related to the high-concentration of poultry operations in the valley and its location under the Pacific migratory flyway for wild birds that carry the disease.