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Peterborough Public Health investigating confirmed report of avian flu in Selwyn Township
Health unit says risk to human health is low but residents should not touch any sick, injured, or dead wild birds
Peterborough Public Health is investigating a confirmed report of avian influenza (H5N1) discovered in a backyard flock located in Selwyn Township, noting that the risk to human health is low.
This is the fifth report of the highly pathogenic virus confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ontario since March 27. Avian flu has also been found in poultry flocks in the townships of Guelph/Eramosa, Zorra, and Woolwich, as well as in a backyard flock in the Township of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
Each infected premise has been placed under quarantine, according to the CFIA website, which points out H5N1 is spreading in wild bird populations across the globe and presents a “significant national concern” as birds migrate to Canada. Avian flu was detected in Newfoundland and Labrador in December and January and in Nova Scotia in February and March. In April, three cases of avian flu have been detected in Quebec geese.
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Avian flu case in Selwyn Township the fifth on an Ontario farm
Avian influenza has been discovered in a farm poultry flock in Selwyn Township, Peterborough Public Health reported Monday.
No further details were released by the health unit but it’s the fifth confirmed report of avian influenza, also known as H5N1, on an Ontario farm over the past few weeks.
The other Ontario cases were on farms in Woolwich Township in Waterloo Region, Zorra Township near London, Eramosa near Guelph and the Township of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
“The risk to human health remains low and we are not aware of any local human cases at this time,” said medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott. “The virus does not easily cross from birds to humans, and the current strain is listed as being of ‘lower than normal’ concern for spreading to humans.”
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An avian flu outbreak has Pennsylvania on alert
THE ALLEGHENY FRONT – A highly contagious avian influenza strain could threaten poultry in Pennsylvania. It’s been found in poultry–in backyard flocks as well as large operations – in 17 states and counting since February. The virus, which causes respiratory failure and sometimes sudden deaths among birds has been confirmed in poultry in some surrounding states but not in Pennsylvania yet.
Avian influenza is very rarely transmitted by birds to people, but infected poultry have to be put down to stop the spread. During the last avian flu outbreak in 2015, producers in the Midwest lost tens of millions of chickens and turkeys.
The Allegheny Front’s Kara Holsopple recently spoke with Gregory Martin, Ph.D., PAS, a poultry educator with Penn State Extension, and part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Avian Flu Task Force.
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Avian Flu outbreaks 'concerning,' say Guelph U. experts
Experts concerned 'uncontrolled spread of the new subtype lays the groundwork for a potential human flu pandemic'
The discovery of a “highly pathogenic subtype” of avian influenza across the globe and in Canada is worrisome, say University of Guelph experts.
They’re concerned that an uncontrolled spread of the new subtype lays the groundwork for a potential human flu pandemic.
Shayan Sharif is an immunologist in the Department of Pathobiology in the Ontario Veterinary College, who specializes in the immune systems of chickens, including their responses to the avian influenza virus – also called the avian flu. He is also the associate dean of research and graduate studies.
As a data scientist in the School of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Rozita Dara studies applied artificial intelligence, data governance and information privacy with a focus on disease modelling and digital agriculture.
Because the flu subtype is currently spreading in both wild and domestic bird populations, there are concerns that the viruses will mutate or exchange genetic material. That’s something over which researchers have “very little control” and that could prolong the risk, said Sharif.
“Beyond that point, there isn’t evidence of the subtype spreading to humans, but if we have massive circulation of highly pathogenic viruses in our flocks, the chances for gaining such ability by the virus will enhance significantly,” he said
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High-path avian flu strikes Texas flock, expands in Midwest
In expanding activity involving highly pathogenic Eurasian H5 avian flu, federal officials over the weekend reported the first outbreak in Texas, which struck a commercial pheasant farm.
The event pushed the number of states experiencing outbreaks in poultry flocks to 25 this year, with the virus linked to the loss of about 22.8 million birds so far. Iowa—the nation's largest egg producer—is the hardest-hit state, having lost 13.2 million poultry already.
The outbreaks are the nation's worst since 2015, when highly pathogenic H5N2 avian flu struck farms in 15 states, leading to the loss of more than 50 million birds, of which more than 32 million were in Iowa.
In related developments on the current outbreak, eight earlier-affected states reported more poultry outbreaks: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, according to state and federal sources.
Pheasant deaths prompt testing in Texas
The outbreak in Texas marks the southernmost spread to poultry so far.
It occurred at a pheasant farm housing 1,600 birds in Erath County, located in the central part of the state about 100 miles southwest of Dallas, according to an Apr 3 statement from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant health Inspection Service (APHIS).
The Texas Animal Health Commission said samples from the birds were tested after an increase in bird deaths. It added that the pheasants are being depopulated to prevent the spread of the virus.
Midwestern states hit hard
In the Midwest, Illinois reported its second outbreak, which also affected backyard birds, according to the latest updates from APHIS. The flock of 40 birds is in Carroll County in the northwestern corner of the state.
Iowa reported four more outbreaks in commercial poultry. On Apr 1, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) reported that the virus struck a layer farm in Osceola County in the northwest and a turkey farm in Cherokee County in the west central region.
Two days later the IDALS reported two more outbreaks, one at turkey farm in Sac County and the other at a breeder chicken farm in Humboldt County, both in the state's west central region.
Minnesota reported two more outbreaks, one at a commercial turkey farm in Morrison County in the central part of the state and the other in a backyard flock in neighboring Stearns County, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which now lists 13 outbreaks affecting more than 580,000 poultry.
North Dakota reported three more outbreaks, raising its total to four. They include backyard birds and a commercial turkey farm in Dickey County and a commercial turkey farm in Lamoure County, both in the southeastern region.
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Egg Prices Jump as Bird Flu Hits Poultry Flocks
vian influenza spreading across the U.S. has led to the deaths of more than 17 million birds, tightening supplies for eggs and poultry
A rapidly escalating bird-flu outbreak in the U.S. is contributing to a surge in egg prices and threatens to raise prices on other poultry products in the coming months as deaths continue to mount.
Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza so far have led to the deaths of more than 17 million birds, according to Agriculture Department data. The virus outbreak, the worst in seven years, is hitting Midwest egg-laying flocks and affecting companies from Tyson Foods Inc. to Hormel Foods Corp. More than 11 million egg-laying chickens, roughly 3% of the total U.S. flock, have died or been destroyed as a result of the disease, along with more than two million commercially raised turkeys.
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