Date of publication: 12 Apr 2022 • 10 minutes ago • 3 minutes reading • Join the discussion A truck enters the entrance of Cold Springs Eggs Farm where it was reported that the presence of bird flu was discovered, forcing the commercial egg producer to destroy almost 3 million chickens on March 24 2022 near Palmyra, Wisconsin. To control the spread of the virus, the US Department of Agriculture has required testing of all poultry in a control area set up around the infected farm before the birds or eggs can be sold or transported. The discovery of bird flu on the farm was the first case reported in Wisconsin, but has already been reported on poultry farms in several Midwest states. Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images
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The wild birds returned from their escape in warmer climates and brought back a souvenir – the flu.
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Avian Influenza (HPAI), the H5 strain to be specific, was recently identified in Saskatchewan, and three commercial poultry businesses in Alberta have also reported cases of the highly contagious virus. It has poultry producers in Saskatchewan looking west, as Saskatchewan announced on Friday that a goose found near Elrose tested positive for HPAI. It was a wild bird, but worries remain. In the Belle Plaine Hutterite colony, Nathan Tschetter, who cares for chickens, said he was aware of the flu and was taking precautions. “Well, if the Lord does not keep the barn, I suppose we watch in vain, eh?” said Cheter. However, as the man of faith tends to his birds, safety measures are observed, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and best practices regarding the isolation of birds from abroad. Cheter said he hopes humans are not stupid enough to interact with wild or dead birds, saying “I’m sure humans have common sense.” Tschetter said there is a protocol for entering barns, including PPE, and changing shoes so that nothing can be found outside the barns. If the HPAI entered the barns, which housed 13,248 chickens and 1,500 broilers, it would mean the loss of thousands of birds and a significant amount of money. Cheter said such precautions are quite common, not just when there is bird flu in the countryside. “It’s been all the time we’re worried about the birds, not just now. “Every time you go in to see the birds, you change your shoes.”
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The county has emailed poultry producers about best practices and will notify producers of other confirmed cases. Currently, the only confirmed cases are in wild bird populations in Saskatchewan. The last time the HPAI was found in Saskatchewan in either commercial poultry or wild birds was 2007. “I would say the concern for commercial producers is quite high,” said Tennille Knezacek, of Poultry Extension at the University of Saskatchewan. Knezacek stressed that her work is “100 percent industry-funded” and focuses on the commercial side of things in poultry. There is a risk of infection for poultry farms of all sizes, from your large commercial enterprise to free-range poultry or “backyard” operations. In fact, small businesses may need to be extra careful, Knezacek says. “When birds have access to the outside, there may be a flock of geese flying overhead and feces may fall from the sky,” he said. “Birds that have the ability to mingle or interact with wild birds are much taller than birds housed in a barn.” When the flu is detected in a barn, all birds must be killed to prevent further spread of the virus. Typical practice is what is known as whole barn gas, where CO2 is pumped into a sealed barn. The main concern with avian influenza is the possibility of it being transmitted to humans, becoming more contagious and spreading to humans.
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This is part of why HPAI is a federally reported disease. If it occurs, and if it spreads, rapid action is required to mitigate the spread and prevent the possibility of human transmission. “The risk is very small, but there is a risk of it jumping from birds to humans,” Knezacek said. “It can cause high mortality in birds, but there is also a risk to human health, even though it is very low.” If people in the county see dead waterfowl, report your findings to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 306-966-5815 or to the Department of the Environment at 1-800-567-4224. “Early detection is extremely important because it really helps prevent it from spreading,” Knezacek said. “People have to control what they can control.” [email protected] The news seems to be flying at us faster and faster. From COVID-19 updates to politics and crime and everything in between, it can be hard to keep up. With that in mind, Regina Leader-Post has created one Afternoon titles newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox to make sure you are up to date with the most important news of the day. Click here to sign up.
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