Avian Flu Affecting Poultry Farms In Lower Mainland BC

Nov 28, 2022

At that time, more than 17 million birds, mostly in the Fraser Valley, had to be destroyed because of avian flu. This week, another 7 poultry farms in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver were put under quarantine, after 3 of the farms had confirmed cases of the deadly H5N1 strain, the same strain that's resulted in the culling of hundreds of thousands of birds this year in Alberta and in other parts of the country as well.

There are still several active cases of avian flu here in the province. BC's ag minister told reporters this week, the H5N1 strain is behaving very differently than previous variants. "This year has been a lot more difficult. We haven't seen the pressure, disease pressure get alleviated as we normally would. I feel confident that we're going to get on top of this, but currently right now, there is a lot of pressure."Lana Popham says the inspection agency has protocols in place to deal with infected farms and that of course means surviving birds,sick or not, will have to be destroyed. She says the situation right now isn't as bad as 2004 and they hope it won't get there.

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Video: Five Confirmed New World Screwworm Cases Raise Alarm for Livestock and Pet Owners

Pat Hoffmann, Swine Technical Consultant at Elanco Animal Health tells us about the impact of New World Screwworm. The emergence of New World screwworm in the U.S. creates a threat for veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners that has not been seen north of the Florida Keys since the fly was eradicated from the United States more than 50 years ago. New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae feed on living tissue and can affect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and even humans.
“New World screwworm could have a devastating impact on animal health, welfare, and producer livelihoods,” said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health. “We want to thank the FDA, EPA and USDA, for all their work to prepare for this threat. We’re committed to supporting our customers during this challenging time by delivering innovation, scientific expertise, and available resources to help treat New World screwworm and support the health and well-being of animals.”
Elanco is working alongside the U.S. animal health industry to help them fight against this parasite, offering a portfolio of options for pets and livestock that can help treat New World screwworm larvae infestations.