It was revealed last week that an extremely pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu had been confirmed in two flocks of poultry in Mountain View County and one flock in Ponoka County. The CFIA said Monday it also found poultry flocks in Kneehill County on Friday, Paintearth County on Saturday and Wetaskiwin County on Sunday. The contaminated facilities have been quarantined, an investigation has been launched and the CFIA will introduce movement control measures to other farms within the area. He says the cases have been reported to the World Organization for Animal Health. The CFIA says bird flu is not a major public health concern for healthy people who do not come in regular contact with infected birds. He says the cases serve as a strong reminder that bird flu is spreading around the world and that anyone with farm animals should practice good biosecurity habits to protect poultry and prevent disease. Avian influenza cases in poultry and non-poultry flocks have been reported in recent months in Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The most recent outbreak of bird flu started last year in Europe and has since spread to the United States and Canada, destroying some commercial farms with very high mortality rates. “Artificial intelligence is spreading to wild bird populations around the world and is a major national concern as birds migrate to Canada,” a statement said. “The CFIA continues to remind anyone with poultry or other vulnerable birds to practice good biosafety habits to protect them from infectious animal diseases.” With files from the Canadian Press
