CFIA urges hobby and backyard farms to protect flocks from Bird Flu

Mar 23, 2021 | 2:55 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — It’s a serious disease that can kill poultry and potentially spread to people working closely with poultry, making them sick.

Avian influenza (AI), also known as Bird Flu, is being monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), for outbreaks around the world. Right now, AI is widespread in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Canada is not immune to outbreaks of bird flu in poultry populations. Several outbreaks, including as recently as 2015, caused significant damage to poultry owners in several provinces.

Ontario and British Columbia (BC) have both issued reminders to the poultry industry to be vigilant for AI, and the province of BC has raised its alert system to “yellow”.

It should be noted that Bird flu can be carried by wild birds, such as ducks and geese, without looking sick. If these birds come in direct or close contact with chickens or pet birds, in particular if they have access to the outdoors and ponds or bodies of water, the disease can be passed onto them.

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There is no treatment for birds that become infected with the disease and on rare occasions, some subtypes of the virus can cause illness in humans.

Health Canada has more information about human health issues related to bird flu. While the CFIA routinely communicates with the poultry industry, data shows that backyard flock owners may not be aware of how to protect their birds and stop spread of the disease.

With that in mind, the CFIA launched an advertising campaign to encourage hobby farmers and backyard flock owners to adopt strong biosecurity measures that prevent the spread of AI.

Early detection and reporting is crucial and the CFIA has put together informative resources to spread understanding of AI, how important it is to know the signs of the virus and where to report any possible findings.

A good resource is inspection.gc.ca/flock-protection

by Dori Modney