CFIA urges Islanders to be vigilant as busy fair and exhibition season approaches

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is urging Islanders to be cautious as the agency oversees the decontamination of a Kings County site where avian influenza was detected in a P.E.I. domestic flock for the first time. 

A veterinarian with the agency said it's not surprising that the highly contagious virus has arrived among domestic birds on Prince Edward Island. 

"It's a little bit amazing that P.E.I. hasn't had a detection before. Now it has been detected in every province in Canada," said Dr. Lynn Hood, a regional veterinary officer with CFIA who is based in Kentville, N.S.

"I think that it's not unexpected, just with the number of detections in wild birds, and you never know which wild bird would be infected and spreading. So yes, it was a matter of time for sure."

After a regional lab told Hood's office about a detection suspicious for avian influenza, the CFIA reached out to the owner to let them know about the test results. Other samples from the lab were transferred to a national lab in Winnipeg for confirmation. 

According to a news release, the highly contagious virus was confirmed earlier this month in a small poultry flock in Kings County. The agency said it does not release details about individual farms but noted that the detection was at a non-commercial operation. It said operations with fewer than 1,000 birds are classified as non-commercial.

"Movement controls are placed on the property and so that means that anything that was in contact with the birds needs to stay on site," Hood said.

She said those samples had been confirmed by May 15, and at that time, any remaining birds on the property were euthanized.

Cleaning and disinfecting

Hood said the flock's owner needs to follow certain steps to clean and disinfect the property in order to meet milestones set by CFIA.

"The first thing that needs to happen is that any manure, or things that were in contact with the birds, have to be disposed of [and] any equipment cleaned and disinfected,"  Hood said.

"Then the coops and barns, things like that, are also cleaned and disinfected. And it really depends on how long it takes for that to happen. Once cleaning and disinfection is complete, there's a 14-day waiting period before birds can be added to the property."

There's a 28-day period that CFIA will continue to monitor any other poultry premises in the area.— Dr. Lynn Hood, CFIA veterinarian

Hood said the CFIA is in constant contact with the site's owner throughout that period.

"People aren't allowed to access... those barns and things where the chickens were," Hood said.

"You can come and visit the house, where the people live, that's different, but access to the animal housing areas [is] limited."

Hood said there is also a primary control zone, which will remain in place until CFIA requirements are met.

"There's a 28-day period [during which] CFIA will continue to monitor any other poultry premises in the area, and if any report sick birds, then CFIA investigates those," Hood said. "But it's 28 days once the primary decontamination milestone is met."

Hood said the CFIA will be monitoring a zone equal to a 10-kilometre circle centred on the property that sparked the notification.

Bio-security 'top of mind'

The CFIA veterinarian also has advice for Islanders with flocks or poultry and ducks, especially as the busy season of fairs and exhibitions approaches. 

"I think the thing to really keep in mind is that avian influenza is circulating in the wild bird population and I think the important thing is to always keep bio-security at top of mind," Hood said.

"If you're taking your poultry to a fair or an exhibition, you want to keep everything clean, wash your hands, make sure that the birds are separated, make sure that feeders are cleaned, make sure that waters are cleaned... to help reduce the risk of introducing influenza to your flock."

Hood said CFIA is also urging commercial producers to be sure they have enhanced bio-security measures in place.

"If you're travelling between barns, make sure that you do have adequate measures in place, whether that be foot dips, dedicated boots, dedicated clothing, washing your hands — all of those types of things to reduce the risk of introducing avian influenza."

Farmers' association reacts

In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for the P.E.I. Chicken Farmers says they are "very grateful to the person that took such swift action in identifying [avian influenza] through the proper channels with their flock."

The organization said it will await future announcements from CFIA.

The P.E.I. Association of Exhibitions said it is following the situation closely.

"At this time, our planning for summer exhibitions remains unchanged," it said in a statement.

"We recognize the importance of bio-security measures and will continue to assess any potential impacts on events involving poultry or other birds. The health and safety of animals and the public are our top priorities, and we will take all necessary precautions as advised by provincial and federal authorities."