Highly pathogenic avian influenza is sweeping across western and central Canada. The first positive case of HPAI since May was detected last week on an Ontario poultry farm in Oxford County. Learn more here.
The Feather Board Command Centre is reminding all poultry farmers, small flock growers and poultry industry personnel throughout the country the importance of implementing strict biosecurity.
Biosecurity protocols that can be implemented on-farm are:
- Keep poultry away from areas frequented by wild birds.
- Maintain strict control over access to poultry houses and your premises.
- Make sure equipment is cleaned and disinfected before taking it into poultry houses.
- Do not keep bird feeders or create duck ponds close to poultry barns.
- Maintain the highest sanitation standards.
- Change footwear when entering the Restricted Area and prevent wearing contaminated clothing and equipment in production areas.
- Control access to your farm site by communicating the situation to all essential visitors, including service providers, input suppliers and feed providers.
- Keep mortalities in secure, covered containers until they are moved to the disposal area or transported off-farm.
- Place waste entering the public collection system in a sealed, waterproof bag with the exterior disinfected.
- Place a hose and spray nozzle at entry point to Controlled Access Zone (CAZ); wash and disinfect vehicles at entry and at exit, paying special attention to wheels and wheel wells.
- If possible, keep all waste on-farm until the situation is resolved.
- IMPORTANT: Limit access to your farm to ESSENTIAL visitors only.
In the meantime, should birds show any signs of illness, farmers should call their veterinarian immediately.