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Avian influenza was probably introduced by migratory wild birds. Photo from Postmedia / File
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Provincial officials and poultry producers hope the worst of the deadly wave of bird flu that has swept through the province is over.
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Dr Margo Pibus, a wildlife specialist at Alberta Fish and Wildlife, said the virus appears to have made its way through Alberta after bird deaths peaked in May. She said most of the virus came to the countryside through migratory birds that appear to have spread farther north.
“Towards the end of May, we received fewer reports of dead birds. The dead birds that were found are usually older carcasses, so they died more in mid-May, “Peabus said. “We really don’t suspect that we have a lot on the way to the flu virus, which is still in Alberta at the moment.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 spread to Alberta in April and early May, ravaging poultry and commercial poultry farms. The disease is thought to have come to the countryside through wild birds and then spread to wild and domestic populations. Earlier this month, reports found that nearly a million poultry had to be destroyed because of it.
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“The form of the virus that came with wild birds this spring that came north is actually killing some wild birds, and we’ve never seen that before,” Peabus said. “The primary mortality was in geese, especially snow geese. But then we saw a secondary spread of the virus in things that ate those who also broke up with the virus and died, and that includes a lot of hawks and owls. “
Peabus said he did not believe the virus would continue to spread over the summer.
Maria Leslie, a spokeswoman for chicken producers in Alberta, said they were optimistic that the spread of the virus had passed, but continued to call on producers to be extra careful.
“I want to encourage people to continue to follow very high standards of biosecurity with all kinds of birds they may have on their farms,” Leslie said. “As we approach mid-summer, and also when the weather warms up – as the flu is conducive to living in cooler and wetter environments – we hope to continue to see fewer cases.”
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The website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shows that the last confirmed case of avian influenza was found on June 2 in small flocks that are not poultry, which means that the animal is in the home and not intended for consumption. The latest case at a commercial poultry farm was opened on May 11, according to the website.
There are 20 active areas of infection left in the province, including 18 outlets, according to the CFIA database.
Leslie confirmed on Friday that there have been no new confirmed cases in the past week and that a facility in Mountain View County has gone through the full process of eradicating the disease.
“Increased biosafety protocols continue to be observed. . . “We encourage small herd owners to continue to adhere to increased biosecurity,” said Leslie.
dshort@postmedia.com
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