SASKATCHEWAN TO REMAIN VIGILANT AGAINST AVIAN INFLUENZA

Saskatchewan's veterinary community today recommended that Saskatchewan poultry producers maintain strict adherence to biosecurity and sanitation guidelines to help avoid the spread of avian influenza to this province.

"I encourage our poultry producers to be especially vigilant at this time, to protect our province and our industry from the devastating situation B.C. poultry producers are now facing," Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Minister Mark Wartman said.

The biosecurity guidelines are widely available from industry organizations such as Chicken Farmers of Canada, and from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization's Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Kerr, said that, although no cases of avian influenza have been detected outside of British Columbia during the recent outbreak, biosecurity is the best defence, and early detection is the key to stopping the spread of avian influenza.

"There are steps which all producers can take to control contact between their poultry and this virus. Equally important is to report any situation which resembles an outbreak of avian influenza to a veterinarian, who will contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency if necessary," Kerr said.

The avian influenza virus is very highly concentrated in the manure, as well as the nasal and eye discharges, of infected birds. Any contact with wild birds creates the highest risk for contamination, as they carry the disease without showing symptoms. Feed and water sources shared with wild birds can be a source of contamination.

"The speed and ease with which the virus appears to be spreading in B.C. suggests our poultry producers should take extreme precautions that limit traffic onto their farms and in particular in and out of their barns," Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association Registrar and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Curt Hagele said. "The first line of defence for poultry flocks is to eliminate their contact with anything or anyone that may be carrying the influenza virus. It is essential that all clothing, equipment and vehicles are subjected to proper biosecurity procedures between visits to poultry farms."

"Avian influenza has the potential to be devastating for the poultry industry unless early diagnosis is made," Western College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Pathology Associate Professor of Diseases of Poultry Dr. Susantha Gomis said. "The poultry extension program and the diagnostic service at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine or Prairie Diagnostic Services can be of assistance in this process."

Clinical signs of avian influenza in poultry include: respiratory difficulty, coughing and sneezing, diarrhea, swollen wattles and combs, facial swelling, and an increase in the number of deaths.

Information about protecting poultry from avian influenza can be accessed at: http://www.chicken.ca/E_farmers.htm or http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/avflu/avflue.shtml.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031