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Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters
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CFIA: 29 farms quarantined due to avian flu outbreak near Woodstock April 13, 2015 CFPL AM 980 A total of 29 poultry farms in southwestern Ontario are now under quarantine after H5 avian influenza was confirmed on a turkey farm in the Woodstock area earlier this month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency had originally placed that farm, and eight others, under a quarantine. The agency announced over the weekend that 20 additional farms were under quarantine as well. “This decision was not made based on any increased risk, nor is there a food safety concern,” Dr. Abed Harchaoui, a senior staff veterinarian at the CFIA, told reporters. “This move is precautionary and to date only one farm has shown signs of infection.” The outbreak has sparked trade sanctions from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Uruguay and Barbados. The quarantine zone is designed to limit and control the movement of animals, animal products and equipment to contain the disease. Those under quarantine will need a license to move products off their farm. “This move is an effective balance between strong disease control methods and the ability to resume trade,” Harchaoui said. “The agency is monitoring these additional premises closely for any sign of disease.” 45,000 turkeys have been killed because of the outbreak. 10,000 on the infected farm in Woodstock died from disease while the other 35,000 were humanely euthanized to stop the spread of the virus. Avian influenza does not pose a risk to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. The disease rarely affects humans that do not have consistent contact with infected birds. The virus detected on the Woodstock farm has been found to be nearly identical to the H5N2 strain that triggered avian influenza outbreaks in British Columbia and nine U.S. states since last year. The virus is a new hybrid from an H5N1 virus that has been affecting poultry flocks in Asia since late 2003. Comment: Animal agriculture is fundamentally inhumane and this exemplifies the realities of the industry. Suffering and death is simply business. It’s an affront to humanity and needs to end. We all have a choice not to participate in such atrocities and injustices – make the smart choice today, go vegan. Codes of Practice fail to protect farm animals; NFACC Report 2011; Timelines; NFAHWC; Maple Lodge inhumanity, misleads consumers, complaint filed |