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Enhanced Import Measures Respecting Live Birds (April 25th, 2006)
Travellers Campaign (May 17th, 2006)
Wild Bird Survey Technical Briefing (May 18th, 2006)
Federal/Provincial Agriculture Ministers’ Conference (June 29)
CFIA News
September 13, 2006
July 5, 2006
- Testing by Canada’s avian influenza (AI) reference laboratory in Winnipeg of birds
from a small backyard flock in western Prince Edward Island has been completed with no
evidence of H5 avian influenza virus found in the birds. Disease control measures had been
implemented on and around the premises which was home to the flock on June 16, 2006 after
preliminary testing of samples from one gosling found evidence of an H5 virus.
- Samples from the flock were sent to the Winnipeg lab for confirmatory testing consistent
with Canada’s procedures for preliminary findings of H5/H7 AI virus in poultry. All
birds tested negative on serological and virological tests. Attempts to grow virus from
samples from the gosling found no further evidence of virus. The testing is now complete.
A quarantine which was placed on the premises on June 16 was formally released on July 5.
June 19, 2006
- Testing by Canada’s avian influenza (AI) reference laboratory in Winnipeg has found
no additional evidence of AI virus
in birds from a small backyard flock in western Prince Edward Island.
- Samples from the flock, including an index bird, were sent to the Winnipeg lab for
confirmatory testing consistent with Canada’s procedures for preliminary findings of
H5/H7 AI virus in poultry. All birds tested negative on serological and virological tests.
- The Winnipeg lab will attempt to grow virus from samples from the index bird in order to
characterize the virus. This process will take up to two weeks. Ultimately, it may not be
possible to gain further information about the virus. This situation is not unusual as was
evidenced in the 2005 survey of AI in wild birds.
June 19, 2006
- Confirmation of pathogenicity and characterization of the virus is underway at CFIA's
National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg. There is no evidence suggesting
that we are dealing with the H5N1 strain currently in Asia and other countries. That virus
is marked by very high mortality in birds, which was not observed in this particular
situation.
- This detection represents an animal health concern only. Public health officials are
monitoring the situation closely and will advise on public health implications and take
appropriate measures where necessary.
- Disease response plans consistent with a non-commercial finding have been activated in
collaboration with the Government of Prince Edward Island and the poultry industry.
- Consistent with its AI surveillance protocols, the CFIA has quarantined and is testing
birds on a second premises which is adjacent to the index premises. There has been no
evidence of AI in the birds on this second premises, but there has been regular movement
of people and possibly animals between the two premises. It is standard procedure for CFIA
to investigate frequent contact premises.
- Preliminary results should be available in the next few days.
June 16, 2006
- As a precautionary measure the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in collaboration
with the Government of Prince Edward Island, has implemented disease control measures in
and around a premises in western Prince Edward Island where a young goose in a backyard
flock tested positive for an avian influenza virus. It is important to note that this
finding does not indicate a new threat to human health.
- The virus was determined to be an H5 subtype in testing conducted by the Atlantic
Veterinary College laboratory in Charlottetown. The sample has been sent to the National
Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD) in Winnipeg for further testing to confirm its
strain and pathogenicity. The NCFAD is Canada’s national reference laboratory for
avian influenza. Testing is being conducted on a priority basis, results will be
communicated as soon as they are available.
May 18, 2006
- Plans for Canada's Inter-agency Wild Bird Influenza
Survey 2006 were announced today by representatives of Environment Canada, the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian
Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre. The survey will provide an early warning for the
possible entry of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) into Canada.
April 25, 2006
The CFIA is enhancing its control measures
on imports of live birds from all countries eligible to export birds to Canada to
further limit opportunities for the importation Avian influenza (AI) to Canada.
These measures apply to countries which are recognized as being free of
highly pathogenic AI in their domestic flocks. Canada continues to prohibit trade in
poultry, poultry products and birds with any country which is not recognized as free of
highly pathogenic AI in its domestic flock.
March 8, 2006
Imported birds on two of eight Quebec farms have now been released from a
standard 30-day quarantine which is generally applied to animals imported into Canada. The
quarantines on the remaining birds are expected to be released in the coming weeks
provided there is no change in their health status. These quarantines are a routine
requirement for imported birds to assure animal health authorities that birds are free of
foreign animal diseases such as Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza.
The birds, which were imported from France, were tested as a
precautionary measure after France confirmed a finding of highly pathogenic Avian
Influenza H5N1 on a turkey farm in the Department (district) of Ain. All tests were
negative for the disease.
March 2, 2006
Testing of birds on eight Quebec farms has confirmed that all of the
birds are free of avian influenza.
The birds, which had been imported from France, were tested as a
precautionary measure after France confirmed a finding of highly pathogenic avian
influenza H5N1 on a Turkey farm in the Department (district) of Ain.
The birds will remain under a standard 30-day quarantine which is
generally applied to animals imported into Canada. Release of the quarantines is scheduled
to begin in the next few days.
March 1, 2006
Consistent with its commitment to the protection of animal and public
health, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented import restrictions
following the confirmation of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a turkey farm in
France.
The importation of live birds and bird products from France has been
suspended, with the exception of commercially sterile processed products.
The CFIA prohibits imports of poultry and poultry products from countries
not recognized as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the commercial poultry
sector. Commercially sterile processed products are permitted.
Canada does not permit the importation of pet birds from countries found
positive for the highly pathogenic, Asian strain of H5N1 influenza.
These actions are part of a broader strategy of vigilance to reduce the
potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza to enter Canada.
The CFIA has also traced all recent shipments of birds and bird products
imported from France. It has been confirmed that there have been no recent imports to
Canada from the Department of Ain, France, where the H5N1 was detected on February 23,
2006, nor any areas close to it.
Any hatching eggs or birds from France are required to undergo a 30-day
quarantine period in Canada to monitor for poultry diseases. This is a standard practice
for most animal imports that has been in place for decades. There are eight farms in
Quebec that have recently imported from France and these quarantines are in place.
As an extra precaution, the CFIA is monitoring the health status of these
birds on a daily basis and they are being tested. Preliminary results to date are all
negative. There has been no indication of illness in these birds to date.
The CFIA continues to actively monitor and analyse the progression of
avian influenza occurrences at the international level and to take actions consistent with
recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
The following Web links provide up to date news and information from the Government of
Canada on avian influenza (AI).
Public
Health Agency of Canada - Avian Influenza
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/influenza/avian_e.html
Health
Canada - Influenza
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/influenza/index_e.html
Public
Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (Safe Canada)
http://www.safecanada.ca/link_e.asp?category=10&topic=170
Foreign
Affairs Canada
http://www.fac-aec.gc.ca/avianflu-en.asp
Canadian
Wildlife Service - Environment Canada
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/nwrc-cnrf/default.asp?lang=En&n=8E0044D3-1#2
Provincial
and Territorial Information
http://www.influenza.gc.ca/pt_e.html
The following Web links provide credible, up to date information on the global
situation regarding avian influenza (AI).
World
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Alerts -
http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_urgences.htm
World
Health Organization (WHO) Situation Updates Avian Influenza -
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/updates/en/index.html
Science
and Development Network - Bird Flu (SciDevNet) -
http://www.scidev.net/dossiers/index.cfm?fuseaction=dossierItem&Dossier=24&CFID=9562435&CFTOKEN=23281882
Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) AI Page -
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html |
