ABPA had initially projected Brazil’s 2025 chicken exports reaching up to 5.4 million tons, up 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year.

But based on outstanding sales in the first weeks of the year, that forecast may prove conservative, said Ricardo Santin, head of the group, in an interview.

“The 5.4 million tons were at the top of the projected range but will likely be revised,” he said, adding more monthly data is required to officially increase the forecast.

Since January 1, more than 34 countries have registered outbreaks of avian influenza, according to data from the World Organization for Animal Health cited by ABPA.

In the United States, Brazil’s main competing exporter, there are more than 60 active outbreaks. There are also 64 outbreaks in the United Kingdom, 76 in Germany, 40 in Poland and 36 outbreaks in the Netherlands, ABPA said.

Brazil never had an outbreak on a commercial farm.

In January, Brazilian chicken shipments increased by almost 10 per cent, driven by increased demand from China, the European Union and the Philippines.

Strong demand drove a 20.9 per cent increase in chicken export revenue.

“February should be no different, based on the weekly partial figures received, which predict shipments of over 450,000 (tons),” ABPA’s statement said.

The first half of the year tends to be seasonally weaker than the second, Santin said, adding initial export performance may boost Brazil’s overall export volumes on a monthly basis at the end of 2025.

The post Global avian influenza outbreaks give Brazil chicken exports an edge appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

There are 10 premises infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in B.C. and one in Saskatchewan. The nation estimates 11,099,000 birds are affected, according to the latest data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. All B.C. cases are in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

“I think there’s definitely worry and apprehension in the industry, because in the last two years in a row – and this is the third year – the growers have seen HPAI cases around this time,” said Natalie Veles, executive director of British Columbia Turkey.

Why it matters: Avian flu poses a serious risk to Canada’s poultry supply, and migratory birds that land in the Fraser Valley make B.C. farms particularly vulnerable.

Culprits for the new cases are migratory birds, Veles said. Dr. Theresa Burns, B.C.’s chief veterinary officer, agreed. Waterfowl carry avian influenza viruses north to south and they love to rest in standing water in the Fraser Valley, especially during wet years.

“We get large numbers of waterfowl in the Fraser Valley specifically, and they’re shedding the avian influenza virus into the environment,” Burns said.

This particular strain has been infecting farms in the area for three years. Industry groups and the provincial and federal governments have helped producers prepare for and reduce the risk of avian influenza.

“We’ve seen our poultry industry really step up,” Burns said.

Different orders are in place for infected premises under the Animal Health Act. British Columbia Turkey and other poultry groups in the province are working with the CFIA to ensure infected premises are quarantined and quickly managed.

“We’re also sharing a lot of good information as we go through the outbreak,” Veles said. “The industry is handling it the best we can.”

When HPAI is confirmed in poultry through lab testing, the CFIA designates the affected area as an infected premises and places it under quarantine. It may also establish a primary control zone around an infected premises.

Movement of poultry, related products and equipment is restricted within this 10-kilometre radius. Locations of active primary control zones can be viewed on CFIA’s website.

If a flock is located within an active primary control zone, producers must obtain a permit to transport birds, their products or byproducts. Permits apply to both small and commercial flocks.

“We’ve regulated poultry types – broilers, breeders, layers, turkeys, and also on the non-regulated side, with ducks,” Veles said. “And those are the things that we are really trying to work with the CFIA to understand.”

On poultry farms, biosecurity measures include ensuring birds come only from reputable sources and that any sick birds are promptly isolated from the main flock. Introducing new birds should be done sparingly, and newcomers, as well as those returning from exhibitions, should be isolated before integration. Implementing an all-in, all-out movement for flock management is advisable where feasible, the sector has been told.

Good biosecurity protocols require regular cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses, equipment, clothing and footwear used by handlers. A specific area should be designated for cleaning vehicles and equipment. Dead birds and damaged eggs should be promptly disposed of, and plastic crates should be used for bird transport, protocols indicate.

Such protocols also require restricted access for visitors, and measures to prevent other birds, rodents, pets or wildlife from interacting with the flock. Accurate records of people, animals and equipment moving on and off the premises should be kept.

Veles said she hopes that, in working with producers, the CFIA and other groups, they may discover other risk factors that will allow better control of future outbreaks.

“We need to know what those risk factors are to be able to respond better,” she said.

The CFIA is working with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food and industry groups to respond to current infections, a spokesperson for the CFIA wrote in an Oct. 30 email.

Around 145,000 birds have been affected by HPIA at the six premises in B.C. All have been humanely killed and disposed of, the CFIA said. Manure, feathers and other material that could spread the disease are disposed of as well, and all premises go through cleaning and disinfection overseen by the CFIA.

“The continued detections of HPAI in both wild and domestic birds in Canada is a strong reminder for anyone raising birds to remain vigilant of HPAI and ensure they have effective biosecurity measures in place,” the spokesperson wrote.

If this year follows the same pattern as the previous two, Burns is hopeful that cases of HPIA will drop off in December.

The post HPAI cases rise in B.C. amid birds migrating south for winter appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

There are 10 premises infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in B.C. and one in Saskatchewan. The nation estimates 11,099,000 birds are affected, according to the latest data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. All B.C. cases are in Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

“I think there’s definitely worry and apprehension in the industry, because in the last two years in a row – and this is the third year – the growers have seen HPAI cases around this time,” said Natalie Veles, executive director of British Columbia Turkey.

Why it matters: Avian flu poses a serious risk to Canada’s poultry supply, and migratory birds that land in the Fraser Valley make B.C. farms particularly vulnerable.

Culprits for the new cases are migratory birds, Veles said. Dr. Theresa Burns, B.C.’s chief veterinary officer, agreed. Waterfowl carry avian influenza viruses north to south and they love to rest in standing water in the Fraser Valley, especially during wet years.

“We get large numbers of waterfowl in the Fraser Valley specifically, and they’re shedding the avian influenza virus into the environment,” Burns said.

This particular strain has been infecting farms in the area for three years. Industry groups and the provincial and federal governments have helped producers prepare for and reduce the risk of avian influenza.

“We’ve seen our poultry industry really step up,” Burns said.

Different orders are in place for infected premises under the Animal Health Act. British Columbia Turkey and other poultry groups in the province are working with the CFIA to ensure infected premises are quarantined and quickly managed.

“We’re also sharing a lot of good information as we go through the outbreak,” Veles said. “The industry is handling it the best we can.”

When HPAI is confirmed in poultry through lab testing, the CFIA designates the affected area as an infected premises and places it under quarantine. It may also establish a primary control zone around an infected premises.

Movement of poultry, related products and equipment is restricted within this 10-kilometre radius. Locations of active primary control zones can be viewed on CFIA’s website.

If a flock is located within an active primary control zone, producers must obtain a permit to transport birds, their products or byproducts. Permits apply to both small and commercial flocks.

“We’ve regulated poultry types – broilers, breeders, layers, turkeys, and also on the non-regulated side, with ducks,” Veles said. “And those are the things that we are really trying to work with the CFIA to understand.”

On poultry farms, biosecurity measures include ensuring birds come only from reputable sources and that any sick birds are promptly isolated from the main flock. Introducing new birds should be done sparingly, and newcomers, as well as those returning from exhibitions, should be isolated before integration. Implementing an all-in, all-out movement for flock management is advisable where feasible, the sector has been told.

Good biosecurity protocols require regular cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses, equipment, clothing and footwear used by handlers. A specific area should be designated for cleaning vehicles and equipment. Dead birds and damaged eggs should be promptly disposed of, and plastic crates should be used for bird transport, protocols indicate.

Such protocols also require restricted access for visitors, and measures to prevent other birds, rodents, pets or wildlife from interacting with the flock. Accurate records of people, animals and equipment moving on and off the premises should be kept.

Veles said she hopes that, in working with producers, the CFIA and other groups, they may discover other risk factors that will allow better control of future outbreaks.

“We need to know what those risk factors are to be able to respond better,” she said.

The CFIA is working with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food and industry groups to respond to current infections, a spokesperson for the CFIA wrote in an Oct. 30 email.

Around 145,000 birds have been affected by HPIA at the six premises in B.C. All have been humanely killed and disposed of, the CFIA said. Manure, feathers and other material that could spread the disease are disposed of as well, and all premises go through cleaning and disinfection overseen by the CFIA.

“The continued detections of HPAI in both wild and domestic birds in Canada is a strong reminder for anyone raising birds to remain vigilant of HPAI and ensure they have effective biosecurity measures in place,” the spokesperson wrote.

If this year follows the same pattern as the previous two, Burns is hopeful that cases of HPAI will drop off in December.

The post HPAI cases rise in B.C. amid birds migrating south for winter appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

His conversation with a few of the event attendees had turned to dairy. The speaker came from the U.S., where rules on the sale of raw milk for human consumption are looser. He expressed disbelief when told that Canada prohibits the practice.

The implication was that such rules are unnecessarily stringent. He said it amazed him that many dairy producers would refuse to drink unprocessed milk from their own farm.

As we spoke, I thought about how the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was working across several provinces to track the impacts of bovine tuberculosis infections found in Saskatchewan.

I’ve been thinking about that conversation a lot in recent weeks, ever since news broke that avian influenza had made the jump to dairy in the U.S.

As of April 19, eight states had cases of what the industry has now dubbed bovine influenza A virus. It’s a problem for agriculture that cattle producers and epidemiologists are watching closely on both sides of the border, as Jeff Melchior and Stew Slater report in this week’s front-page story.

It is not a human health crisis, although health experts are also watching the situation closely, as they would any virus that has shown capability to jump species. There’s been only one human case and conjunctivitis was the main symptom.

There are warnings that producers should boost biosecurity and that dairy workers should take pains to avoid infection vectors, but no one is talking about a crisis looming in the milk supply. Quite the opposite. Officials have repeatedly stressed that U.S. milk is safe.

The main reason? Milk packaged for human consumption and sold across state lines must be pasteurized. Officials are also doubling down on urgings to avoid raw milk, the sale of which is legal in some states.

In Canada, it’s a moot point. Health Canada gives room for raw milk cheeses with production processes that kill pathogens, but unprocessed or untreated milk is a no-go north of the border.

Canada enjoys some of the safest food in the world, particularly when it comes to milk, meat and poultry products. We have our food safety system, which includes rules sneered at by raw milk advocates, to thank for that.

In fact, when you think about food-borne illnesses that have slipped through the safety net to the grocery aisle, you’re far more likely to remember scares from contaminated lettuce or cantaloupe than animal products.

The regulations are one reason no one is worried about contracting tuberculosis through milk. As Geralyn Wichers noted in her fall 2023 deep dive on bovine tuberculosis testing, meat and dairy were vectors for the historic killer prior to medical advances. Management protocols for livestock and application of food safety systems removed it and other harmful pathogens from the value chain.

Raw milk advocates argue that veterinary control measures have removed the threat of pathogens like tuberculosis, so pasteurization is no longer necessary. The situation in the U.S. suggests otherwise.

Rules around milk treatment are not just about protecting people from known disease threats. They’re also about getting ahead of the ones waiting in the wings.

The post Comment: No room for raw milk appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Many potential vectors have been considered, from migratory birds, direct cow-to-cow transmission and milking equipment. A University of Guelph veterinary professor has one word to describe this flu strain: erratic.

“We’ve never seen anything like this before — never, ever, ever,” said Shayan Sharif.

He’s been following this iteration of bird flu, caused by the virus H5N1, since it started making global waves around 2020.

Why it matters: The American Association of Bovine Practitioners says cattle cases should be referred to as bovine influenza A virus (BIAV) to reflect that the disease is less lethal and presents with different symptoms in cattle than in poultry.

Since 2022, and until dairy cases were confirmed in March, the main struggle has involved poultry. Barn infections in the U.S. and Canada led millions of chickens and turkeys to be culled in the last few years in efforts to control spread.

“Globally, we’ve never seen an aviation outbreak that has lasted for almost three years globally and has caused so much pain for the poultry industry. It’s behaving very erratically,” Sharif said.

Wild mammals, mostly predators, have also been infected, as has a juvenile goat in Minnesota.

Start of the dairy problem

On April 16, an update from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service indicated that they’ve so far found the virus in pigeons, grackles and blackbirds that live around dairy barns. That’s somewhat of a departure from the last few years, where birds like geese and other waterfowl were flagged as major disease reservoirs of concern.

The illness has killed several barn cats, caused a mild infection in one Texas dairy employee, and resulted in either positive or presumed positive tests on dairy cows in eight states: Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, Idaho and Michigan.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillaincourt, an epidemiologist with University of Montreal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, says influenza A virus doesn’t spread readily in feces, so chances are low that geese or ducks could infect cows during a fly-over. It also doesn’t spread easily through nasal droplets so the likelihood is low that cows would spread the virus to other cows.

However, those vectors can’t be ruled out, he said, and there is much to investigate about current infections. Vaillaincourt thinks an infected bird with access to cattle housing or feeding areas likely contaminated either feed or water in the U.S. dairy incidents.

Reports show that USDA officials “floated the possibility, without naming specific herds or locations, that all affected cows may trace back to a single farm.”

Vaillaincourt believes this means positive tests in other states resulted from cattle imported from Texas, a fact confirmed in some U.S. cases. He says it’s likely HPAI was circulating in dairy facilities in Texas and possibly in nearby states for several weeks before someone decided to test for it.

“(The infection in cows) is noticeable, but it’s not really a classic case of anything … (and) they seem to recover after two weeks. They may have, in several states, had a problem for quite some time and they didn’t know.”

Vectors

The lone human case linked to dairy infections almost certainly occurred through milk contact, most likely splashing into eyes or being introduced into eyes by contaminated hands.

“Right now, the (U.S.-based) Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. is recommending people wear goggles” while dealing with infected cows, and urging against feeding raw milk to either humans or calves, Vaillaincourt said.

In Canada, sale of raw milk for human consumption is prohibited.

That’s likely not the link for new cattle infections, however. Cows don’t typically get milk in their eyes or noses and won’t knowingly eat a dead bird. But they could consume organic matter from a bird if it’s in feed or a water source.

“Water will be a big (subject of investigation),” Vaillaincourt said. “In non-treated water, this virus could survive for weeks.”

A possible cow-to-cow infection was tagged in Idaho March 30. The USDA later said it hasn’t seen “any true indication” the virus is spread that way. However, an April 24 statement, in which the agency announced new rules for interstate dairy cattle movement, said spread had been noted between cows in the same herd, from cows to poultry, between dairies associated with cattle movements and that virus had been found in cows without clinical signs.

In one case, lung tissue from a cull cow from an affected farm tested positive, although U.S. officials stressed no product from that cow made it into the food supply.

The Meat Institute, which speaks for American meat processors, has since called for the USDA to institute testing for beef.

Milking equipment is another potential vulnerability and some biosecurity recommendations also suggest rodent prevention.

“Rodents are not necessarily the best host for avian influenza, but it is possible that they could carry avian influenza into the barn,” Sharif said.

Why is this time different?

Migratory birds are the typical culprits blamed for bird flu spread. They are carriers but, in outbreaks prior to the explosion of cases in 2022, often didn’t develop signs of serious illness. This time round, that’s not the case.

“We’ve had massive die-offs of Canada geese caused by this particular strain of HPAI,” Sharif said. “In the past we wouldn’t have this (range) of behaviours displayed by the virus.”

In an April Reuters article, University of Guelph pathobiology researcher Nitish Boodhoo noted the strain infecting American cattle “has undergone a specific adaptation in an enzyme called polymerase. Changes to this viral enzyme are concerning, as it could allow for faster adaptation and maybe even support cattle-to-cattle transmission.”

In a statement reported by Reuters April 24, the USDA said it “has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people.”

Canadian response

In an email, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is “currently monitoring how this virus has been transmitted between different species and why it is affecting some mammals differently than others.

“The CFIA is working with the USDA, public health authorities, Canada’s veterinary community, industry and the provinces and territories to monitor the situation closely.”

Beef and dairy producers on both sides of the international border have also been told to bolster biosecurity and watch for signs of infections, such as reductions in milk production or feed uptake.

There is also concern that Canada is not totally prepared if BIAV jumps the border. There is no precedent here for such a mild infection, albeit one with possible wider-scale repercussions, Vaillancourt said.

A major dairy show is scheduled soon in Quebec and numerous bovine guests are expected to cross the border from the U.S.

“We don’t have a process right now that would require those cattle be tested for avian influenza,” he said.

Without a process in place, should all U.S. visitors be turned back? Alternatively, if a testing process is put in place, what should happen if there’s a positive test? Should cows be quarantined?

“CFIA is not going to go and investigate these things. They don’t have the manpower. They already don’t have all the resources they need to cover poultry,” said Vaillancourt.

The CFIA said that if symptoms appear on dairy farms, farmers should contact a veterinarian to have samples tested. If positive for BIAV, it must be reported to the CFIA. That agency and Health Canada are watching for signs that the strain is zoonotic.

“If we had dead cows in the U.S., this would be a very different story,” said Vaillancourt.

That would lead agencies on both sides of the border to implement biosecurity measures to preserve dairy cattle health. Officials in both countries remain on guard.

“It is one more species that can be infected, and the more the virus can cycle within different species, the more it has a chance to mutate,” Vaillancourt said.

The post Flu strain in U.S. dairy cattle may be a different beast appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Although highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly called bird flu, is harmless in food, its spread is a concern for governments and the poultry industry due to the devastation it can cause to flocks and a risk of human transmission.

The virus usually strikes during autumn and winter and has been spreading in many European countries over the past weeks but with a delay compared with previous years.

A increase in outbreaks had previously been observed at the beginning of October, whereas this year the rise has only taken place from November, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the EU reference laboratory (EURL) said in a joint report.

“The later rise in HPAI virus detections in wild birds may be due to a later autumn migration of several wild waterbird species following a relatively warm autumn period,” they added.

The report notes that the severe bird flu virus was detected in wild birds and mammals in the Antarctic region for the first time.

Meanwhile, ECDC assessed that the risk of bird flu infection in Europe remains low for the general public. Despite indications of mammal-to-mammal transmission, no mammal-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus in circulation in Europe has been observed, they added.

It was too early to predict whether a similarly high number of bird flu outbreaks as in the previous years or a reduction due to development of some level of immunity in previously affected wild bird species would be observed, they also said.

–Reporting for Reuters by Sybille de La Hamaide.

The post Bird flu spreads in Europe with a delay after warm autumn appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

In a recent study, my colleagues and I showcased the potential of gene editing to protect chickens from the threat of avian influenza.

This disease is caused by an ever-evolving virus that gets around numerous biosecurity measures such as good hygiene, restricted bird movements, surveillance through appropriate testing or selective elimination of infected birds.

A gene editing breakthrough would stem the huge economic losses currently suffered as a result of bird flu outbreaks. It would also be a significant step in controlling a disease that, although rarely, has caused serious sickness and death in humans.

Outbreaks of bird flu around the world cost billions of dollars in losses. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that up to 50 million birds died from bird flu in 2022. Recently, the South African Poultry Association said more than seven million chickens were destroyed after outbreaks were detected in the first half of 2023.

Beyond the economic implications, bird flu outbreaks also pose a risk to human health.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, bird flu was considered a possible trigger for a devastating human pandemic. This prompted international surveillance led by the World Organisation for Animal Health, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

The fear is well-founded as the three flu pandemics of the 20th century – including the 1918 flu pandemic that claimed tens of millions of lives – originated from birds, as did the outbreak of concern in Hong Kong in the late 1990s.

Vaccination is a primary method for preventing bird flu outbreaks in chickens. However, the effectiveness of vaccines is limited because the bird flu virus rapidly evolves. This makes existing vaccines less effective over time.

Also, there are multiple strains of the bird flu virus, but a vaccine is effective against only one specific strain. It’s necessary to match a vaccine with the prevailing strain causing an outbreak. Using vaccines may also involve substantial costs and practical hurdles of distribution.

In contrast, gene editing could target a protein or proteins within chickens that are vital for all strains of bird flu, effectively stopping the virus in its tracks.

Gene editing refers to the process of making a precise change in a specific gene in an animal to introduce traits such as resistance to a particular disease, increased productivity or characteristics that enhance animal welfare.

It’s important not to confuse gene editing with genetic modification, which entails transferring a gene from one species to another. This distinction is necessary for regulatory purposes, especially as the older genetic modification technology has faced stringent regulations in many countries, hampering its development.

To produce the gene-edited chickens in our study, we used the powerful molecular scissors known as CRISPR/Cas9 to make a single gene edit. We targeted the ANP32A protein in chickens.

Compared to normal chickens hatched simultaneously, these gene-edited chickens reached maturity without any discernible adverse consequences on their health and wellbeing.

To test their resistance, we exposed the gene-edited chickens to a low dose of the bird flu virus. Remarkably, nine out of 10 of these birds displayed complete resistance, and no transmission occurred to other chickens.

Taking a more ambitious step, we inoculated the gene-edited chickens with a high, unnatural dose of the virus – 1,000 times the low dose. This time, five out of the 10 inoculated gene-edited chickens became infected.

We also found that the bird flu virus was capable of adapting to use the edited ANP32A protein, as well as two related proteins – ANP32B and ANP32E. But we demonstrated through experiments in cells that simultaneously editing all three proteins could completely suppress the virus.

Ongoing research aims to identify the specific combination of gene edits needed to create the next generation of gene-edited chickens, providing complete and permanent protection against bird flu.

Gene editing should be regarded as an essential tool for preventing and controlling deadly animal diseases.

Supportive government regulations will be required to promote the development of gene editing aimed at enhancing animal health and welfare.

The potential for disease-resistant animals to protect global food security and public health is a compelling reason to pursue this innovative path in biotechnology.

– Alewo Idoko-Akoh DVM, MSc, PhD is a research associate, School of Biochemistry, at the University of Bristol. This article first appeared in the Conversation, by Reuters.

The post Comment: Eliminating bird flu in chicken barns appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

France has been among the countries worst affected by an unprecedented global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has disrupted supply of poultry and eggs and sent prices rocketing in many parts of the world in the past years.

To fight the spread of the disease it started vaccinating 64 million ducks early this month, making it the first poultry exporter to do so and raising hope among foie gras producers that it would put an end to the crisis.

Producer group Cifog forecast foie gras output will rise 20 per cent in 2023 to 9,855 metric tonnes after a drop of 35 per cent in 2022, but still 26 per cent below the average of the five previous years and half the volume produced 10 years earlier.

Higher production costs, including part of vaccination, will lead to another rise in foie gras prices, pegged at five per cent this year, it said.

On the export front, France’s bird flu vaccination campaign prompted several countries to impose a ban on French poultry imports, including Japan, France’s main foie gras export market outside Europe with a share of 10 per cent in value.

Canada and the U.S. also imposed bans, Cifog added.

Although more and more governments have been looking at vaccination as a way to contain the virus, most of the world’s biggest poultry producers have resisted vaccination due to concerns it could mask the spread of bird flu and prompt trade bans.

— Sybille de La Hamaide is a Reuters commodities correspondent in Paris.

The post French foie gras makers toast rising output after bird flu gloom appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Why it matters: HPAI has killed or led to the cull of 58.84 million domestic birds in the U.S. since the start of 2022 and 7.77 million in Canada since late 2021.

North Dakota itself has had no positive domestic cases since April. Manitoba, the state’s closest northern neighbour, last saw HPAI in November, as of the time of writing.

The same cannot be said elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada. Although case numbers pale in comparison to the peaks of 2022, three states in the U.S. (South Dakota, Idaho and New Jersey) confirmed infections since the start of September, affecting about half a million domestic birds. The number is mostly attributed to a single infected turkey operation in South Dakota, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed six cases since the start of September, five in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan.

NDSU staff warn that the risk of transmission will increase as fall migration continues.

Hunters take heed

Hunters should be aware of the risk of HPAI in wildlife and use measures to prevent spread to domestic poultry. They should also watch for birds with neurological symptoms that might signal infection.

Dr. Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist, noted the increase of exposure risk for hunters.

“Hunters should dress game birds in the field when possible and practice good biosecurity to prevent any potential disease spread,” he said.

They should also avoid eating, drinking or smoking while cleaning game and beware of letting blood or other fluids contact their own eyes, mouth or nose, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Hands, utensils and other surfaces should be washed with hot, soapy water after cleaning is done.

“There is no evidence that anyone has contracted the virus from eating a fully cooked bird, either domestic or wild,” said Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist, noting that, whether there’s a risk of bird flu or not, any wild meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 F.

Dogs participating in the hunt don’t have a big risk of contracting HPAI, “however, there have been documented cases of dogs transmitting HPAI to domestic flocks,” Stokka said. “If your dog has interacted with wildlife, take measures to keep them away from poultry.”

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk from the current HPAI outbreak is low,” said Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “People should not handle dead wild birds and also should avoid transporting sick or dead birds.

“If you hunt and have domestic poultry and birds, do not wear hunting clothes while you are in with your birds,” she added. “Infected birds shed bird flu viruses in their saliva, mucous and feces.”

HPAI symptoms

One of the first clinical signs of the illness in domestic birds is sudden, unexplained death. Most farms with HPAI report a drop in water consumption up to 72 hours prior to the unexplained death.

In laying barns, decreased egg production and depression are signs. Purple or dry combs, being quieter than normal, frequent lying down and swelling around eyes are other symptoms.

Chickens and turkeys are most susceptible to HPAI. Waterfowl such as geese and ducks carry the virus and spread it to other birds.

“The best defence against HPAI is having a biosecurity plan in place,” said Mary Keena, NDSU Extension livestock environmental management specialist. “A biosecurity plan is critical in protecting your birds. It is your job as a flock owner to create a line of separation between your clean flock and the potential unclean issues that wildlife or visitors may bring.”

Keep out the wild

Non-lethal methods to deter wild birds are available on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s wildlife damage webpage: https://bit.ly/deter-wild-birds.

Producers can also discourage wild birds by cleaning up litter and spilled feed around domestic poultry housing.

If anyone on a poultry farm comes in contact with or handles wild birds, they should change into clean clothes, wash their hands and disinfect footwear prior to contact with domestic birds.

Sick or deceased wild birds should be reported to local conservation staff.

Flock-to-flock

Industry can also take steps to avoid spreading HPAI between domestic flocks.

Keep distance from other flocks and restrict access to property and birds. Allow contact from people who care for the birds but minimize visitors.

If a producer has been near other poultry or poultry owners, such as at feed stores, car and truck tires should be cleaned and disinfected.

New birds should be kept separate from the rest of the flock for at least 30 days.

Shared lawn and garden equipment, tools or poultry supplies between neighbours or farms are also possible vectors.

– With files from Alexis Stockford

The post Hunter or farmer, here’s how to beat avian flu appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the temporary ban Tuesday, following France’s move to require mandatory vaccination against highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) in ducks raised for meat production starting this month.

CFIA said it has been in “close contact” with French and European Union officials on the matter since June, and received a presentation in July from France on that country’s HPAI vaccination plan.

France’s plan was announced after the European Union passed legislation in March on use of vaccination to mitigate animal disease outbreaks.

The French plan requires vaccinations of ducks for meat production. Vaccination of breeder ducks is permitted, but only for birds that will not be exported.

However, CFIA said, it’s not yet clear whether meat from vaccinated ducks will be eligible for export to other countries — nor how France plans to identify, trace and control vaccinated breeding stock.

CFIA said it’s “currently conducting” its risk assessment, and until that evaluation is complete, the suspension will be in effect.

The agency’s suspension on imports from France applies to live birds and hatching eggs; all unprocessed avian and poultry products and byproducts, including “edible or inedible” raw poultry meat, eggs, feathers, poultry manure and litter; laboratory material containing poultry products or byproducts; and any raw or unprocessed pet food containing poultry products or byproducts.

Cooked and canned or hermetically sealed, commercially sterile meat products are still eligible for import, CFIA said.

France, like Canada, the U.S. and many other countries, has seen its poultry industry hard hit by outbreaks of HPAI in the past couple of years.

CFIA reports that as of Sept. 21, Canada’s run of HPAI outbreaks since December 2021 has impacted an estimated 7.678 million domestic birds.

A lull in cases since May this year ended in September, as CFIA detected five outbreaks during the month including four premises in Alberta and one in southwestern Saskatchewan.

READ MORE: France stacks the deck against bird flu but risks issues

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Serice (APHIS) on Friday also announced such a ban, also taking effect Oct. 1.

APHIS’ ban applies on imports of poultry from France, as well as live ducks, duck eggs, and “unmitigated/untreated” duck products from the APHIS-recognized European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR) as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Great Britain is not included in the EPTR ban.

The U.S. doesn’t allow poultry from countries affected with HPAI “or from flocks that have been vaccinated by HPAI,” APHIS said in a release Friday.

Vaccination of poultry against HPAI “may mask HPAI virus circulating in poultry,” APHIS said, and vaccinated birds “may not show signs of infection, which could lead to the export of infected live animals or virus-contaminated products to the United States.”

Furthermore, APHIS said, EU member states and other non-EU countries in Europe have open access to the European common market for trade in avian commodities.

“With the way poultry moves under the EPTR, we currently cannot be assured countries trading in the European common market can reliably certify that exports do not originate from European countries that vaccinate poultry for HPAI,” APHIS said.

“Accordingly, these restrictions address the risk of open trade within Europe while accounting for the higher risk with imports from France.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

The post Canada puts temporary ban on France’s poultry, eggs appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.