The Rural Voice, 2006-10, Page 45Weather sites
Avian Influenza (also known as
"Bird Flu") continues to make
headlines, sometimes causing
confusion and anxiety among the
general public. Is it safe to travel to
Europe or Asia? Is it safe to eat pou-
ltry? Is it safe to go near wild birds?
Bird Flu, in its current form, is
almost exclusively a disease of birds
and does not pose a general threat to
public health.
The reason that avian influenza
and pandemic influenza have been
linked together by some people is the
potential for a virus usually found in
animals to mutate and form a new
virus that could easily infect humans,
both directly and from one human to
another. There is currently no human
influenza pandemic in the world. To
read more about influenza pandemics
and what you can do, please go to
www.health.gov.on.ca/pandemic.
The following points may also
help put Bird Flu into perspective.
• There are many different strains of
Avian Influenza virus, commonly
found in wild birds. Most cause no
harm to birds or humans. The
particular strain causing illness
overseas is known as H5N1 (Asia).
• H5N1 (Asia) has not been detected
in North America.
• Currently, H5N1 (Asia) does not
cross easily from birds to humans.
Almost all human cases to date
resulted from direct contact with
infected domestic birds or their
droppings.
• There is no reason for the public to
avoid eating properly cooked poultry
and eggs.
• There is no evidence of cats
infecting humans. A few cases of
H5N1 (Asia) have been reported in
domestic cats in Europe and Asia,
but these were also caused by direct
exposure to infected birds.
Advice
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Grants help Huron
Continued from Page 40
Valley Conservation Authorities are
working together to deliver the
project for the county. Conservation
authority staff will visit the project
site and help complete the
application form and present the
project proposals to the Project
• The virus is likely being spread
both by migrating wild birds and by
the sometimes illegal movement of
infected live poultry and on
contaminated clothing and
equipment. Wild birds may
introduce the virus to a region or
country, but poor biosecurity allows
it to infect commercial poultry
operations and spread to other farms.
• Because of migratory patterns, there
is a chance that the virus will show
up in wild birds this year in North
America. The presence of the virus,
however, does not necessarily mean
that it will become widespread or that
it will affect commercial poultry or
humans. It certainly does not signal
the start of a pandemic.
Notwithstanding all these facts,
prevention and preparedness are
appropriate at this time. The key to
managing Bird Flu is controlling the
disease in domestic poultry before it
can become something more serious
to humans as well as an economic
disaster for the poultry industry.
Another important step is
minimizing the contact, and possible
mixing, among influenza viruses of
birds, humans and other animals.
Because of this, controlling the
annual human flu virus through
vaccination and good hygiene
practices will also contribute to
pandemic prevention, in addition to
being a good public health measure.
What can be done to prevent the
spread of Avian Influenza in Poultry?
• Governments are working with
wildlife experts to detect the presence
of Avian Influenza viruses in wild
birds. Plans are in place for dealing
with H5N1 if it is detected in wild or
domestic birds in Canada.
• The commercial poultry industry is
making biosecurity practices
mandatory for its producers. It is
water projects
Review Committee of local citizens.
To apply for funding, farmers,
rural landowners and community
groups should call Maitland Valley
Conservation Authority (335-3557)
or Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority at (519) 235-2610 or 1-
888-286-2610.
important for all producers to follow
these protocols routinely.
• There is currently no need to
restrict or cancel poultry shows.
However, bird owners should always
observe proper biosecurity practices
when attending any event where birds
from different sources are mixed.
• Bird owners, including hobbyists
and those raising non -quota poultry,
should follow these Biosecurity
Basics to protect their birds from
possible infection.
The 5 Biosecurity Basics for Bird
Owners
• Restrict visitor access. People can
bring diseases onto your farm,
especi lly if they own or have been
in contact with other birds. Contact
with your birds should be restricted
to those caring for them. It is a good
idea to have separate clothing and
footwear for use when dealing with
your birds.
• Prevent contact with wild birds and
other animals. Keep your birds in an
enclosed or screened in area, and
protect their food and water from
contamination.
• Don't bring disease home. New
additions or birds that have been at a
fair or market should be isolated and
observed for signs of disease for at
least two weeks before joining the
flock. Equipment such as cages
should not be shared with other bird
owners. Any shared equipment
should be thoroughly washed and
disinfected.
• Keep it clean. Routinely wash and
disinfect cages, feed and water
surfaces, boots and any equipment
that comes in contact with the birds
or their droppings. Wash your hands
thoroughly after dealing with the
birds.
• Recognize and report illness. Early
detection is critical in successfully
dealing with a disease outbreak. It is
better to be overcautious than too
late. If your birds show signs of
disease, such as depression, abnormal
egg production or feed consumption,
respiratory problems, diarrhea, or
sudden death, call your local
veterinarian or contact the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency
immediately.0
OCTOBER 2006 41