The affected farm is located in the Rural Municipality of Whitemouth
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the first case of avian flu in a Manitoba poultry flock.
Samples from a farm in the Rural Municipality of Whitemouth on April 23 tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), the CFIA says.
“The infected premises has been placed under quarantine. CFIA has begun an investigation and will be establishing movement control measures on other farms within that area,” the agency said.
This positive test in a poultry flock comes after Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development confirmed H5N1 in samples taken from snow geese near Waskada and a bald eagle near Dauphin.
With these discoveries, producers are advised to ramp up biosecurity measures.
“All our registered producers have been notified that it is recommended to be on high biosecurity alert,” Wayne Hiltz, executive director of Manitoba Chicken Producers, told Farms.com in an email. “We continue to urge backyard flocks to consider keeping their spring birds indoors.”
The CFIA’s website indicates eight Canadian provinces have cases of bird flu in poultry flocks.
Common symptoms of bird flu can include:
- Decreased egg production
- Soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
- Sudden death
- Lack of coordination
- Lack of energy and appetite
Manitobans are asked to contact the TIP Line at 1-800-782-0076 if they find any of the following:
- clusters of six or more dead wild waterfowl (e.g., ducks, geese) or other water birds;
- any number of dead raptors or avian scavengers (e.g., ravens, crows, gulls); and
- groups of dead birds, such as more than 20 of any species.