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Birds die mysteriously in the Magdalen Islands
MARTIN LAVOIE
Monday, 23 May 2022 18:41
UPDATE Monday, 23 May 2022 18:41
According to initial analyses, the birds that litter the beaches of the Magdalen Islands archipelago did not die of avian flu, but this does not reassure two elected officials who are also calling on governments to act as quickly as possible to clean the beaches.
The avian flu epidemic hits Quebec hard. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the disease has been detected on four commercial farms and three small farms in the province since April 22.
The consequences can be terrible. Thus, Canard du Lac Brome had to slaughter at least half of its 350,000 animals. The company employs 300 people.
Last week, two cases of influenza were identified in wild birds in Gaspésie. At the same time, the carcasses of many birds, mainly northern gannets, began to litter the beaches of the Magdalen Islands.
The situation does not seem to be improving and affects the entire territory. Three residents sent the Journal photos of dead birds on Havre-Aubert Island, Havre-aux-Maisons and Grosse-Île.
"It's like that everywhere. I am from the Islands. I've lived in front of [the beach] for more than 15 years, I walk here every day and this is the first time it's happened. It's very sad,” said Myriam Vigneau, from Havre-aux-Maisons.
No explanation
“For more than a week, there have been several hundred on the beaches, dead or dying. They are also found along the roads, even at a gas station. A government observer estimates that more than 500 have died. Other species also seem to be affected, such as cormorants, gulls, alcids (puffins, guillemots) and ducks,” says Joël Arseneau, MP for the Magdalen Islands for the Parti Québécois.
And if avian flu was immediately suspected, the first reports do not point in this direction.
“The MAPAQ told me today (Monday) that the analyzes of the first gannet specimens did not point to avian flu. It's quite intriguing. But are we basing ourselves on the birds picked up in the Magdalen Islands or on those in the Gaspé?” asked Mr. Arseneau, who has not yet obtained all the answers.
The mayor of the municipality of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Jonathan Lapierre, also had this information.
“We had discussions with biologists that the few specimens sent did not show signs of avian flu. Is it something in the water, in nature, a drastic change in the climate? There are several hypotheses under analysis,” he revealed.
Fears
Mr. Lapierre is surprised at the number of gannets who have died. “We don't have a large colony near the Islands. They tend to be on Île Brion and Rochers-aux-Oiseaux. And suddenly we find them here [dead].”
Joël Arseneau underlines the concerns of the people in his riding given the extent of the phenomenon.
“The population is worried about the cause of the mortality on the one hand, and because the cleaning has not yet been done. The communications [from the authorities] are not clear on the risks to humans,” he regrets.
The MP read a misinformation message on the internet that bird flu kills between 40% and 60% of those infected.
According to the quebec.ca website of the Quebec government, “avian flu represents a low risk for the population, the virus is rarely transmitted from birds to humans. There is no sustained transmission between people (…) The symptoms of a human case of influenza are generally similar to those of seasonal influenza”.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed a single case in humans compared to 38 million infected birds.
Whose responsibility is it?
Despite everything, the watchword of the authorities is not to approach the carcasses.
“Avian influenza remains a notifiable disease because of the effects on livestock. And even if it was some other cause, there is something going on. You have to clean up for hygiene reasons because of the abundance of carcasses,” says Mr. Arseneau.
The latter is particularly concerned for the only egg producer in his riding if contamination spreads to his breeding.
The presence of domestic and wild animals near the carcasses also worries Mr. Arseneau who, until today (Monday), was going around in circles to have the beaches cleaned.
“Neither the MAPAQ, the MFFP or the Communauté maritime des Îles (the equivalent of the MRC) intend to clean the banks. The Ministry of the Environment could also have a role to play, but its only inspector is off work and has not been replaced. And the Canadian Wildlife Health Network has no respondent in the Magdalen Islands,” he first explained Monday morning.
Answer
Mr. Arseneau then learned that the Urgence-Environnement group had been commissioned to clean up.
"I don't know when and how yet. The MAPAQ taught me and the file is now the responsibility of the MFFP, “explained the deputy.
Jonathan Lapierre also recalled the fears in the population. And he said he was powerless to clean the banks in the current context.
“Public Health asks citizens not to touch the birds, we cannot send our employees blind without knowing how to recover them. We are having trouble finding employees to open our sites and maintain our roads. We are in labor shortage. We are talking about a vast operation, to cover 300 km of beach and pick up each of the dead birds. This is outside of normal waste management,” he says.
And the disposal of carcasses and elements that could be contaminated also causes headaches for the mayor.
"We bury them? I have a water table in the basement, is there a danger of contamination? We don't have an incinerator, we can't have an open fire. We need experienced people to dispose of these carcasses,” said Mr. Lapierre.
But the chosen one wants first and foremost to know the source of these deaths.
“Every day there are more and more. Starting tomorrow (Tuesday), we will put pressure on the government to determine the cause,” concluded Jonathan Lapierre.
https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022/05/23/oiseaux-morts-aux-iles-le-mystere-sepaissit
