Local movement of birds, eggs restricted as officials seek to contain bird flu – The London Free Press

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A federal agency trying to keep a lid on bird flu that has spread to six farms in Ontario is restricting the movement of birds and eggs in a large chunk of western Oxford County.

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has established a “control zone” that extends north of Embro, east to Woodstock, south to Ingersoll and west to the 27th Line.

“All movement of domestic birds in and out . . . is strictly controlled and requires a permit,” the agency says.

Restrictions also apply to the movement of eggs and poultry products.

A second control zone has been established north of Kitchener as federal officials try to contain an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu first detected in Ontario on March 27 in a farm near Guelph.

Since then, the bird flu has been confirmed on five other farms, including one near Thamesford in Zorra Township.

All of the farms have been placed under quarantine, and the agency is recommending farms in the area put enhanced biosecurity measures in place.

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Wild birds are driving the spread of the disease in Canada and around the globe. Bird flu is not a significant health concern for humans, officials say, but it can be devastating for farmers.

Ontario is the largest producer of turkeys and chicken in the country, with much of the industry in Southwestern Ontario.

A researcher at the University of Guelph who studies avian flu said he expects more cases to surface in Ontario.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have more cases coming up in the next little while. I hope that it won’t happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Shayan Sharif said.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced a sixth outbreak had been detected in Ontario, in a duck flock at a farm north of Elora in the Township of Centre Wellington.

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“I’m unfortunately not very optimistic that we’re seeing the end of it. I think probably we’re going to see more in the not too distant future, but we’re in very good hands,” Sharif added, referring to the measures being implemented by the agency that has quarantined each property, set up control zones and is restricting traffic on and off those farms.

Although Sharif says he’s “quite concerned,” he says the agency conducts “tons” of emergency exercises to prepare for situations like this, and will follow an emergency response plan.

“They’ve done it before and it has worked (to contain the avian flu),” he said. “So it’s been tested and it’s proven to be really effective.”

In 2015, federal and provincial officials spent months containing and eventually eradicating a strain of the flu capable of killing entire flocks of birds within days. That outbreak was contained to three farms in Oxford County, and about 80,000 birds, mostly turkeys, were wiped out.

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“I think at this point, the main idea is really to obliterate the virus and get rid of it in Canada and declare Canada an avian influenza-free country,” Sharif said. “I hope this is just a series of outbreaks that we can overcome.”

But it is possible the strain detected here could gain the capacity to transmit to humans, he said.

As for how it got here, Sharif said he thinks “it’s safe to assume that birds, migratory birds and waterfowl, they’re probably involved in some shape or form in transmission of this virus.”

Since March 27, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed bird flu at farms in the Township of Centre Wellington near Elora, the Township of Selwyn near Peterborough, the Township of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in the Bruce Peninsula, the Township of Woolwich north of Kitchener, the Township of Zorra near Thamesford and the Township of Guelph/Eramosa.

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