Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Hotline monitors dead birds for Avian flu virus
Birds will be tested for virus in certain cases
http://www.northpeel.com/br/orangeville/news/story/3676695p-4250443c.html
ASHLEY GOODFELLOW
West Nile Virus surveillance will be wrapping up this week after a "pretty quiet" season; however, residents are still encouraged to take note of dead birds for a new Avian flu hotline.
The hotline, which will replace the West Nile Virus hotline, will monitor the presence of dead birds and possibly test for the H5N1 strain of the virus. It is run by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre though an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Chris Good, a veterinarian in Guelph who helps staff the hotline, says residents should call if they notice any suspicious dead birds -- particularly water fowl or large groups of dead birds.
"It's fairly broad right now," he says. "We're casting the net quite wide."
However, he says the hotline is specifically for dealing with wild birds and not farm animals.
Testing for the H5N1 strain will take place if certain criteria is met, says Good, for instance if a particular species of bird is frequently noted to be dying for no apparent reason.
If a bird does test positive, Good says the matter would be passed on to the province.
"The H5N1 strain of Avian influenza hasn't reached North America, and this is a surveillance just in case it does," he says. "What this is, is an early warning system."
Theoretically, he adds, the virus could reach North America from the Arctic through migrating birds -- which is enough reason to step up precautionary measures.
Cameron Clark of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says the Avian flu hotline dovetails nicely into the wrap-up of the West Nile Virus surveillance campaign.
Residents who call in to report a dead crow or blue jay will be directed to the hotline.
"The Ministry of Agriculture has a hotline to monitor for the possibility of the Avian Flue virus migrating here this year," he says. "I believe it's the first time they've done something like this [with respect to Avian influenza]."
This year, he adds, dead crows testing positive for West Nile Virus were confirmed in each of the health unit's four districts, with the most recent reported in Orangeville, Sept. 6.
However, Clark describes this season as quiet compared to last season: only 11 human cases confirmed positive in the province in 2006 compared with 100 in 2005.
Residents are still encouraged to follow recommendations to reduce mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water around homes and businesses.
For information on Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health visit www.wdghu.org; to call the Avian flu hotline, dial 866-673-4781.
Birds will be tested for virus in certain cases
http://www.northpeel.com/br/orangeville/news/story/3676695p-4250443c.html
ASHLEY GOODFELLOW
West Nile Virus surveillance will be wrapping up this week after a "pretty quiet" season; however, residents are still encouraged to take note of dead birds for a new Avian flu hotline.
The hotline, which will replace the West Nile Virus hotline, will monitor the presence of dead birds and possibly test for the H5N1 strain of the virus. It is run by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre though an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Chris Good, a veterinarian in Guelph who helps staff the hotline, says residents should call if they notice any suspicious dead birds -- particularly water fowl or large groups of dead birds.
"It's fairly broad right now," he says. "We're casting the net quite wide."
However, he says the hotline is specifically for dealing with wild birds and not farm animals.
Testing for the H5N1 strain will take place if certain criteria is met, says Good, for instance if a particular species of bird is frequently noted to be dying for no apparent reason.
If a bird does test positive, Good says the matter would be passed on to the province.
"The H5N1 strain of Avian influenza hasn't reached North America, and this is a surveillance just in case it does," he says. "What this is, is an early warning system."
Theoretically, he adds, the virus could reach North America from the Arctic through migrating birds -- which is enough reason to step up precautionary measures.
Cameron Clark of Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health says the Avian flu hotline dovetails nicely into the wrap-up of the West Nile Virus surveillance campaign.
Residents who call in to report a dead crow or blue jay will be directed to the hotline.
"The Ministry of Agriculture has a hotline to monitor for the possibility of the Avian Flue virus migrating here this year," he says. "I believe it's the first time they've done something like this [with respect to Avian influenza]."
This year, he adds, dead crows testing positive for West Nile Virus were confirmed in each of the health unit's four districts, with the most recent reported in Orangeville, Sept. 6.
However, Clark describes this season as quiet compared to last season: only 11 human cases confirmed positive in the province in 2006 compared with 100 in 2005.
Residents are still encouraged to follow recommendations to reduce mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water around homes and businesses.
For information on Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health visit www.wdghu.org; to call the Avian flu hotline, dial 866-673-4781.