Article content
Bird flu has been found in a fourth location in southern Ontario, this time on the Bruce Peninsula, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.
Article content
The agency confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza in a flock in the Township of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation on Thursday — the fourth since the beginning of this week.
The agency said it has placed the farm under quarantine. Traffic is being restricted on and off the farm and enhanced biosecurity measures are being recommended for other farms nearby.
The bird flu was previously found at farms in Zorra Township in western Oxford County, near Guelph and Woolwich Township north of Kitchener. The federal agency earlier this week said the disease was found in turkey flocks in those three spots.
A spokesperson could not be reached Friday to find out whether the fourth outbreak was also in turkeys or another kind of bird.
Article content
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said bird flu is spreading in wild bird populations around the world and is a significant concern as birds migrate to Canada.
Ontario is the largest producer of poultry in the country, with much of the industry in Southwestern Ontario. Ontario turkey producers market between 85 million to 90 million kilograms of turkey annually, about 45 per cent of the total raised in Canada. Ontario farmers also raise more than 200 million chickens a year.
Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs says bird flu is not a threat to food safety when properly handled and cooked.
It also says avian influenza is not a significant public health concern for healthy people who are not in regular contact with infected birds.
In 2015, three farms in Oxford County were hit with outbreaks of an H5N2 strain of avian flu. About 80,000 birds, mainly turkeys, were wiped out as officials spent months trying to contain the disease.
Bird flu found in fourth southern Ontario flock - The London Free Press
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment