Canada has notified the World Organization for Animal Health
(OIE) that as of June 3, 2015, British Columbia is considered free of
notifiable avian influenza.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says “this declaration
is based on the successful completion of a three-month surveillance period
following the eradication of notifiable avian influenza in domestic poultry in
the province.”
Countries are required to report outbreaks of
high-pathogenic strains of avian influenza, but not low-pathogenic strains.
British Columbia had about a dozen farms hit by avian influenza
beginning just before Christmas. There have been no more outbreaks there since
the end of January.
Ontario has, however, had three outbreaks in April, all in
Oxford County. They were at two turkey farms and one broiler breeder hatching
egg farm.
Many countries require the entire country to be free of
avian influenza before they will allow a resumption of trade. Others, including
the United States, recognize regional controls.
“The cooperation of the commercial poultry industry, individual
bird owners, the province of British Columbia and local authorities were
instrumental in the disease eradication effort in B.C.,”
says the CFIA.
“Trading partners who recognized Canadian disease control
zones may now choose to resume trade in poultry and poultry products from
British Columbia,” says the CFIA statement posted on its website.
“Canada will
work toward the resumption of trade as quickly as possible.”
