International Egg and Poultry Review
By the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - This is a weekly report looking at international developments concerning the poultry industry, this week looking at the AI situation in British Columbia.
Avian Influenza Spreads in British Columbia
On Friday, April 2, officials realized the avian influenza had spread faster
and farther than previously believed. The number of farms confirmed to
have avian influenza grew from eight on Thursday to 18 on Friday.
Minister of Agriculture Bob Speller announced the order to depopulate
all commercial poultry and other birds in captivity within the Fraser
Valley Control Area in British Columbia on April 5. The Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) had recommended the cull to stop the spread
of the disease and to stamp it out.
The announcement covers an area established on March 11, 2004 in
response to the initial discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza in
the province. The virus found at the first farm in February was originally
diagnosed as a low-pathogenic version of avian influenza, however it
later muted to a high-path version.
After the area has been depopulated and the farms disinfected, there
would be a 21 day waiting period to ensure the disease is gone. Rick
Thiessen, president of the B.C. Chicken growers Association, said
repopulating the Fraser Valley could begin in six months, with full production
having to wait 24 to 30 months.
Around 19 million birds on roughly 600 commercial farms will be destroyed
over the next few months. About 80 percent of the poultry industry
in British Columbia is in the control area and represents15 percent
of the national chicken market. Poultry from non-infected flocks can be
processed and made available to sale. According to one source, the
industry is losing an average of $3 million a week and hatcheries are
losing close to $300,000 a week.

The CFIA has taken legal steps that require poultry owners maintain
strict controls over who and what can enter their property. Vehicles and
equipment must be disinfected before and after entering the property.
Improperly cleaned and sanitized vehicles, equipment and clothing
can carry the virus.
Alberta producers adopted a mandatory program to help control any
similar outbreaks two years ago. All 288 producers are required to
meet strict guidelines to be licensed. Chicken producers in Alberta are
taking precautions such as spraying down tires with disinfectant,
restricting visitors and avoiding contact with other poultry operations.
Alberta has the advantage of a colder, drier climate which keeps some
migratory birds away and farms are spread farther apart.
Nearly 40 countries have restricted imports of Canadian poultry due to
the B.C. outbreak. In 2002, Canada exported about 119 million kilograms
of chicken meat.
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Chicken Farmers of
Canada, various news wires
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Eradicated in Texas
On April 1, 2004, USDA informed the Office International des Epizooties
(OIE) of the complete eradication of highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) in Gonzales County, Texas. All States, Territories, and regions
in the United States are free of HPAI.
Source: APHIS/USDA
To view the full report, including tables please click here (PDF Format)
Source: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - 6th April 2004