The Woodstock-area outbreak appears to have been contained
on the one farm.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota 310,00-bird turkey flock owned by
Hormel Corp. has become the third within 48 hours to be confirmed as infected. There are now nine turkey flocks in that state that have been hit.
The outbreaks are devastating for the farms affected, but
also for neighbours who are put under strict quarantines that forbid any
movement on or off their farms.
The outbreaks have also disrupted global trade in poultry,
including breeding stocks that account for most commercial turkey production on
a global scale.
The Van Der Molen Open House in
Jarvis, Ontario, scheduled for Friday, April 10, has been postponed due to
heightened biosecurity protocols. A new date has not been set at this time.
Quota holders are being advised to
step up biosecurity.
This is the notice posted on the
chicken board’s website:
‘Should farmer-members suspect any
signs of health concerns in your flock, please contact your veterinarian and
CFO by phoning the 24-hour emergency hotline 1-877-SOS-BYRD.
Heightened
biosecurity protocols include:
• Alerting any visitors to the farm that there is
heightened biosecurity and keep a logbook of movement in relation to the farm
• Minimizing visits to other poultry production sites
• Avoiding exchanging equipment with other poultry
production sites
• Ensuring all vehicles that access the affected site
are properly washed and disinfected
• Ensuring all personnel in contact with birds wear
boots, protective suits, head coverings and gloves/hand washing
• Securing all laneways to restrict all unnecessary
traffic
Ensuring adequate control of wild
birds.
