The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
has banned poultry imports from Washington and Oregon states following the
discovery of avian influenza in backyard flocks.
The highly-pathogenic strain of
avian influenza was identified Dec. 4; the CFIA imposed its ban Jan. 8.
Speedy, eh? Ah, but Christmas came in there. The flu is also known to take Christmas breaks. And we all believe in Santa Claus and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
Americans were prompt in banning poultry from
British Columbia following outbreaks in the Fraser Valley that wiped out 11
flocks of turkeys, chickens and
hatching egg production.
There have been no new cases there since Dec. 19.
Migrating wildfowl are suspected of
causing all of the outbreaks on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
“All birds, all raw poultry and all
poultry products and byproducts that are not fully cooked, including eggs and
raw pet foods, sourced, processed, packaged or shipped from either state are
now prohibited from entry into Canada until further notice,” CFIA said.
