Avian flu: Manitoba farmers still taking precautions as bird death toll hits 1.7 million
Posted May 8, 2022 1:37 pm.
Last Updated May 8, 2022 1:40 pm.
Manitoba farmers continue to be on the lookout for signs of the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 avian influenza currently circulating in both wild and domestic flocks across North America.
Poultry and egg producers in Canada have lost more than 1.7 million birds to avian influenza since late 2021, according to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
That figure includes birds that have died of the virus and birds that have been euthanized.
BACKGROUND: First case of bird flu detected at Manitoba commercial poultry flock
The regulatory agency says there are 68 infected domestic flocks across the country, with Alberta and Ontario having the highest counts at 23 apiece. In Manitoba, there remains only one confirmed flock affected.
But avian flu is still a cause for concern, say Manitoba farmers.
“We are situated directly under a migratory flyway, so we do prepare for this every year,” said Jake Wiebe, a farmer and the chairman of Manitoba Chicken Producers. “Every case is a big deal because the fact that it breaches a barrier is tough, and then we have to up the ante a little because we don’t want it to breach other barriers. Because we’ve got feed supply and trucks in and out of farms.”
Avian flu is yet another obstacle for Canadian farmers after a difficult two years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and it some cases like Manitoba, bad weather.
“If you think of agriculture as a community, as a whole, whether you’re small or large, everyone has, or should be taking the responsibility to have due diligence to prevent the spread of this disease,” said hobby farmer Anne Wowchuck.
Health Canada says avian flu should still not be a concern for people consuming poultry and eggs.
“They are assuring us this is not a safe food issue,” said Wiebe. “Food supply is safe. It is an animal health issue, so a flock health issue. So that’s really the main message. The birds that are out there, the birds that are going to market are healthy, are good. And so it’s not an issue for consumers, for any of us to worry about in terms of what we eat.”
READ MORE:
- Everything you need to know about Canada’s massive avian flu outbreak
- Avian flu found in Manitoba as contagious strain sweeps over North America
- Food industry adjusting to large outbreak of avian flu in Canada, around the world
Farmers are doing their part to keep their farms safe while being on the lookout for lethargy, lack of appetite, or just a general appearance of ‘droopiness’ in their birds – all signs of avian influenza.
“Basically, it’s going to go through your flock and quite commonly death is the result. And the need may also be to cull,” said Wowchuck.
Both Wowchuck and Wiebe are stressing the importance of precautions for farmers housing birds, regardless of the size of their flock.
“We’re basically not open to visitors,” said Wowchuk. “I’m not accepting people to come over here, especially those with flocks or those who have visited other farms with flocks. Avian flu quite commonly, whether it’s commercially or it’s done on a domestic level, a lot of the times it is transferred through vehicles and through footwear.”
“We do have control zones outside the barns, to limit the traffic,” added Wiebe. “And then inside the barn, we call that a restricted zone. In that restricted zone, we’ve got different boots, we’ve got different coveralls and gloves and those kinds of things so that it’s just one more step in ensuring we’re not touching something outside and carrying it in.”
While avian influenza was first detected in Canada in 2004, this year’s strain – which has also been wreaking havoc in Europe and Asia – is “unprecedented” in terms of its global impact, according to the CFIA.
—With files from The Canadian Press.
