A L E R T ! Report for February for HPAI

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Killerbunny
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Report for February for HPAI

Post by Killerbunny » Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:57 am

Please note this and act accordingly with Spring Sales/AUction Season coming up!

FBCC Reportable/Notifiable Disease Summary
February 2022


North American High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1
In recent weeks, a highly contagious and deadly strain of bird influenza that ravaged several European and Asian countries has been popping up across the eastern half of North America. This virus is killing both wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry. There are rising concerns of a repeat of the 2015 outbreak that resulted in the loss of over 50 million poultry and significantly impacted trade.
Despite swift government action to depopulate and disinfect infected premises, this virus is spreading in areas where poultry may directly or indirectly contact droppings from migrating waterfowl. The coming weeks will test the biosecurity upgrades that farms, businesses, and government agencies have made since 2015.

Canada: HPAI H5N1 poultry outbreaks
Since early December, HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed in 5 poultry premises: 2 commercial and 3 backyard/captive flocks, all in the provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Some 13,252 birds were involved. Mortality has been as high as 85%. All surviving birds have been culled and recovery procedures are underway.
In addition, there have been 7 wild bird incidents where H5N1 was detected, and 6 incidents reported as H5+ve. On Feb 25, the government of British Columbia reported a bald eagle at a rehab facility that died of HPAI H5. This is the first HPAI incident on the Pacific coast.

DATE LOCATION FLOCK TYPE # OF BIRDS
Dec. 9 Avalon, Nfld. Mixed exhibition 419
Dec. 31 Avalon, Nfld. backyard 18
Jan 23 Halifax, NS backyard 55
Feb 3 Kings County, NS Commercial turkeys 11,800
Feb 11 Hants Municipality, NS Commercial mixed 960

United States: HPAI H5N1 poultry outbreaks
Since early February, HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed in 15 infected poultry premises:8 commercial in states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Delaware plus 7 backyard flocks in Virginia, New York, Maine, and Michigan. A total of 1,604,749 birds have died or been culled in order to stamp out the disease.
As of February 23, HPAI has been confirmed in 297 wild bird incidents in 13 different eastern states.

DATE LOCATION FLOCK TYPE # OF BIRDS
Feb 7 Dubois County, Indiana Commercial turkeys 29,000
Feb 12 Fulton County, Kentucky Broiler chickens 246,000
Feb 12 Fauquier County, Virginia Mixed backyard 119
Feb 15 Webster County, Kentucky Commercial turkeys 56,400
Feb 16 Dubois county, Indiana Commercial turkeys 26,625
Feb 17 Green County, Indiana Commercial turkeys 48,211
Feb 19 Green County, Indiana Commercial turkeys 15,400
Feb 19 Suffolk County, Long Island, NY backyard 8
Feb 20 Knox County, Maine Mixed backyard 27
Feb 23 Dubois County, Indiana Commercial turkeys 35908
Feb 23 New Castle County, Delaware Commercial egg layer 1,146,937
Feb 23 Kalamazoo County, Michigan backyard 39
Feb 23 Knox county, Maine backyard 75
Feb 24 Ulster county, NY Captive wild bird
Feb 24 Duchess county, NY Mixed backyard

Keeping Avian Influenza out of your flock
So far, the number of infected poultry farms remains quite low, but it will remain so only if the entire industry enhances its biosecurity against HPAI. Whether you own a small backyard coop or operate a large commercial enterprise, you should review your biosecurity structures and procedures and ensure everyone is rigorously adhering to your program. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Ontario Animal Health Network have produced excellent Avian Influenza Infographics. The best defense against the introduction of AI into a poultry barn is STRICT BIOSECURITY. See the CFIA web site for more detailed information on protecting your flock from Avian Influenza.

Outbreaks in commercial flocks occur sporadically in areas where the virus has been detected in wild birds or outdoor flocks. All flocks that share a common feed source and service personnel with an infected index farm are also at risk.

There is a greater risk to avian influenza if any of the following conditions exist:

Poultry is housed outside.
There are ponds or other wild bird attractions on the farm.
Piles of debris are located close to poultry areas.
Poultry from other farms are introduced to flocks without a quarantine period.
Farmers lack personal protective equipment, such as dedicated coveralls and boots.
Equipment is shared between farms.
There is unrestricted human movement and interaction with poultry.


Intensive health monitoring of your flock is essential. Early detection is critical to ensure rapid containment of a potential outbreak. If your birds are quiet and lethargic with decreased water consumption or are experiencing production drops, bleeding, or swelling or unusually high mortality, a veterinarian needs to be called immediately. All sampling and other diagnostic procedures must be conducted under veterinary direction. This is the time for heightened vigilance.

Public health
While HPAI H5N1 virus is potentially zoonotic, it is believed to pose a minimal risk to public health and is primarily considered a threat to wild birds and poultry. However, some people may be at a higher risk of infection than others based on their exposures to infected birds, particularly poultry workers or hunters. For more information, visit these links to the Public Health Agency of Canada , US Centre for Disease Control and US Dept of Agriculture.

Important contact numbers:

Your veterinarian
If you are experiencing higher than usual mortality, it is recommended that you contact your Board or the 24- hour Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) support line 1-877-SOS-BYRD
HPAI is a federally reportable disease. Veterinarians or poultry growers/farmers who suspect Avian Influenza are to report to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency hot line 1-877-814-2342 or the District Animal Health Office.
Individuals are encouraged to report findings of sick or dead waterfowl and shorebirds to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative information line 1-866-673-4781
If you are a small flock grower, you are urged to register in the Chicken Farmers of Ontario Family Food Grower Program to access helpful disease information and receive notice of infectious poultry diseases in your community.
Please consider registering for access to the FBCC website for detailed information on local and global federally reportable and provincially notifiable poultry diseases and subscribe to FBCC Disease Alerts.
2
:iheartpto:
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
:turkey:

:bat:

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