2 cases of bird flu confirmed, 1 suspected, in N.S. this month | CBC News
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A suspected case of avian influenza in Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg County is under investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, the agency said it received a notification from the province on Feb. 18 regarding concerns about potentially sick birds in Lunenburg County.
“CFIA is currently organizing the necessary logistics and plans to conduct sampling as soon as possible,” the statement said.
Earlier this month, cases of bird flu were confirmed in backyard flocks in the Pictou and Yarmouth areas.
Amy VanderHeide, chair of Chicken Farmers of Nova Scotia, which represents commercial chicken farmers in the province, told CBC Radio’s Maritime Noon that it’s not surprising to see avian influenza at this time of year, because it’s the peak migration season for the Atlantic Flyway.
“The backyard flocks being often kept outside or allowed outside, it just allows for the commingling of the wild birds with our domestic birds and that increases the risk of them contracting avian influenza,” she said.
Last March, Nova Scotia found two cases of avian influenza, according to CFIA’s tracking information.
Though commercial chicken farms remain unaffected, VanderHeide said farmers are maintaining strict biosecurity protocols to protect the industry because avian flu among commercial chicken farming means an automatic cull.
“CFIA does cover some costs of things like depopulation and disposal, but it is mentally taxing you,” she said.
“We care for our folks, we care for our birds, and we want them of course to go into the food system as they were meant to be. So dealing with all of that is definitely a strain for mental health.”
VanderHeide said it’s also vital for the public to understand that avian influenza is a threat to backyard flocks and commercial farms.
She urges backyard owners to isolate domestic birds from wild populations, and to disinfect coops, boots and clothing.
“A positive test of this means that you lose your flock,” she said. “So putting some of these biosecurity measures in place is a great idea.”
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