Highly pathogenic avian influenza detected in Southwestern Ontario

Feb 06, 2024

On February 1, 2024, the Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) which was working closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), shared that it has detected Avian Flu in a commercial flock in Amherstburg, Ontario.

If you have small flocks within 10 KM of this area, remain vigilant and ensure you have excellent biosecurity measures in place. Biosecurity measures are the best way to protect your flock from the outbreak.

Read Small Farm Canada's previous article about biosecurity measure here.

Small flock resources can also be found here.

Also watch for signs of the flu in your flock, look for the following signs:

Lethargy
Coughing, sneezing, or wheezing
diarrhea
A decrease in egg production
Head, neck, or eyes swelling
Lack of coordination

If you detect these symptoms, take immediate action. Contact a veterinarian.

According to the Small Flock Ontario website, “Bird owners are legally responsible to report to a veterinarian, the Canada Food Inspection Agency or the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural if they suspect their flock is infected with a reportable disease such as HPAI.”

Also, if you observe sick or dead wild birds, please report these to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 866-673-4781.

Source : Small Farm Canada

Video: Intrauterine Vaccines in Swine - Dr. Heather Wilson

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Heather Wilson from VIDO at the University of Saskatchewan explains how intrauterine vaccination is being developed as a new option for swine health. She shares how formulation, adjuvants, and delivery methods influence immune responses and what early trials reveal about safety and reproductive performance. Listen now on all major platforms.

"The idea was that an intrauterine vaccine might avoid a tolerance response and instead create an active immune response."

Meet the guest: Dr. Heather Wilson / heather-wilson-a8043641 is a Senior Scientist and Program Manager at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Her work centers on vaccine formulation and delivery in pigs, including the development of intrauterine vaccination to support reproductive health and passive protection of piglets. Her background spans biochemistry, immunology, and functional pathogenomics.