Latest news with #H5N5
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
N.L. homesteader urging people to quarantine their feathered friends due to 2 bird flu cases
Homesteader Steve McBride says people with birds are taking the presence of avian influenza seriously. (Sukree Sukplang/Reuters) The presence of avian influenza in Newfoundland and Labrador has a homesteader calling on farmers and other homesteaders to quarantine their flocks. Two cases of the deadly virus, also known as bird flu, were detected by federal officials last week in central parts of the island. There is no treatment for avian influenza, and it is more likely to kill poultry like chicken and turkeys than wild birds. Steve McBride, a homesteader in Mobile and the founder of the Facebook group Backyard Farming and Homesteading N.L., said members are keeping an eye on the possible spread of bird flu. "I think people are starting to take precautions. One of the precautions that we take in our backyard farming and homesteading group on Facebook is simply to advise people to quarantine their birds and separate them if they're going to be bringing in new birds," McBride told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. LISTEN | CBC's Jamie Fitzpatrick chats with homesteader Steve McBride about bird flu worries: In 2022, the last time bird flu was found in N.L., he decided to take precautions at his homestead base. "As somebody who keeps backyard birds, I recognize that I couldn't just keep doing the same old, same old. So we built an indoor-outdoor enclosure, a covered run with netting over it and such," said McBride. That way, he can let his birds in the outdoor enclosure to get fresh air and exercise but when he's worried about possible cases of bird flu, he can coop them up in the inside enclosure. While he said most people he interacts with take the threat of bird flu seriously, there are some who deny its existence, which he likened to COVID-19 deniers. "There are some some people that are wrapped up in denialism and the idea that maybe this is some sort of hoax or maybe this is some sort of plan by the government to come for your chickens," said McBride. Stopping spread In an email to CBC News, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease said this is the first time they've found the H5N5 subtype in the province, but "the detection is not unexpected as H5N5 has been circulating in wildlife and wild birds in Eastern Canada since 2023." The spokesperson cited privacy about revealing the location for the cases but did say it was in a non-commercial operation with fewer than 1,000 birds. "Zoning and movement controls have been established to mitigate the risk of infection at other premises and surveillance is underway to determine if there has been any spread of the H5N5 subtype," it added. Hitting other areas McBride said in the U.S. there have been widespread culls due to bird flu, which has led to an increase in the price of eggs, adding B.C. has seen a surge in cases that has resulted in quarantining and culling. In rare cases, there can be transmission between birds and other species as well as with humans, McBride said, pointing to a recent case in B.C. that resulted in a child being hospitalized in intensive care. "Those kinds of things are in the background reminding us that not only is this a risk for chickens and our ducks, but this could go further than that," said McBride. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
18-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.L. homesteader urging people to quarantine their feathered friends due to 2 bird flu cases
The presence of avian influenza in Newfoundland and Labrador has a homesteader calling on farmers and other homesteaders to quarantine their flocks. Two cases of the deadly virus, also known as bird flu, were detected by federal officials last week in central parts of the island. There is no treatment for avian influenza, and it is more likely to kill poultry like chicken and turkeys than wild birds. Steve McBride, a homesteader in Mobile and the founder of the Facebook group Backyard Farming and Homesteading N.L., said members are keeping an eye on the possible spread of bird flu. "I think people are starting to take precautions. One of the precautions that we take in our backyard farming and homesteading group on Facebook is simply to advise people to quarantine their birds and separate them if they're going to be bringing in new birds," McBride told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. In 2022, the last time bird flu was found in N.L., he decided to take precautions at his homestead base. "As somebody who keeps backyard birds, I recognize that I couldn't just keep doing the same old, same old. So we built an indoor-outdoor enclosure, a covered run with netting over it and such," said McBride. That way, he can let his birds in the outdoor enclosure to get fresh air and exercise but when he's worried about possible cases of bird flu, he can coop them up in the inside enclosure. While he said most people he interacts with take the threat of bird flu seriously, there are some who deny its existence, which he likened to COVID-19 deniers. "There are some some people that are wrapped up in denialism and the idea that maybe this is some sort of hoax or maybe this is some sort of plan by the government to come for your chickens," said McBride. Stopping spread In an email to CBC News, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease said this is the first time they've found the H5N5 subtype in the province, but "the detection is not unexpected as H5N5 has been circulating in wildlife and wild birds in Eastern Canada since 2023." The spokesperson cited privacy about revealing the location for the cases but did say it was in a non-commercial operation with fewer than 1,000 birds. "Zoning and movement controls have been established to mitigate the risk of infection at other premises and surveillance is underway to determine if there has been any spread of the H5N5 subtype," it added. Hitting other areas McBride said in the U.S. there have been widespread culls due to bird flu, which has led to an increase in the price of eggs, adding B.C. has seen a surge in cases that has resulted in quarantining and culling. In rare cases, there can be transmission between birds and other species as well as with humans, McBride said, pointing to a recent case in B.C. that resulted in a child being hospitalized in intensive care.
Reuters
18-02-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Canada reports outbreak of H5N5 bird flu on backyard farm
PARIS, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Canada has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N5 avian influenza on a non-commercial backyard layer poultry farm in the eastern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health said on Tuesday. The spread of avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has ravaged flocks around the world, disrupting supply and fuelling higher food prices. Its spread to mammals, including dairy cows in the United States, has raised concerns among governments about a risk of human transmission. Analysis of the H5N5 virus detected in Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador province showed that it was similar to the H5N5 one which had hit Canada in 2023, the Paris-based WOAH said in a report, opens new tab, citing Canadian authorities. It also showed that it was related to the H5N1 (2.3.4.4b) lineage that has affected some farms in Canada and has been spreading in other parts of world, mainly in the United States and Europe. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Snettisham bird flu case prompts call to house poultry nationwide
More avian flu outbreaks has led to calls for poultry and kept birds across Britain to be housed indoors, to prevent further Norfolk, a second outbreak this season was confirmed in Snettisham, near Hunstanton, on Sunday, leading to a 3km (1.8-mile) monitoring zone being put in place. Housing orders have already been brought in for 32 affected areas across to the BBC's Farming Today programme, Gary Ford from the British Free Range Egg Producers Association, said: "In our view, there is sufficient evidence to extend the housing order across GB."The government's chief vet said it was monitoring the disease and any risk to more areas. Housing orders have come into force in parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, along with places further afield including Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and follows the discovery of dead wild birds affected by the H5NI virus and one case of H5N5. 'Farmers are absolutely worried' Chief vet, Dr Christine Middlemiss, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had so far decided against a countrywide order, "because we haven't seen either the level of infection or any infection in wild birds in the other areas, nor have we picked up cases there. "So the risk in those other regions is lower."Dr Middlemiss said it was keeping matters under constant review and regularly sampling wild birds for disease. She said a number of outbreaks had also occurred in premises where birds were already Mr Ford said he wanted a stronger response to "get ahead" of the disease, and called for a "proactive approach"."Because farmers are absolutely worried and concerned that this dreadful disease could visit their farm," he said."We've got to do the right thing for the birds, our flocks and the farmers themselves." Dr Alan Atkinson, of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) based in Thetford, Norfolk, said the charity had noticed more cases of bird flu in more species over the past three years."Last summer, we saw relatively little bird flu in wild bird populations," he said."But recently, in the past few weeks, we've seen a real uptick in the number of particularly wildfowl - so geese, ducks and swans and gulls - which are being found dead or sick with avian flu."Dr Atkinson said the virus had been having a major impact on seabirds, adding it was "difficult" to contain among wild birds. "Where we might be able to do something about it is in breeding colonies," he said."And one thing that has been trialled is the removal of carcasses on a regular basis, to try and limit the spread."He said the charity was hoping affected wild bird species, such as great skewers that have seen populations decimated by 50%, would be able to seabirds with "very large mortality" rates included terns, gulls, gannets and kittiwakes, he said. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu case identified at park next to Kelpies
Two cases of bird flu have been identified in Falkirk - including at The Helix park next to The Kelpies visitor attraction. Falkirk Council said the virus had been found in some wild birds in the park and at nearby Kinnaird Ponds. It said the risk to the public remained low, but signs had been erected to warn visitors of the dangers. Dog walkers have also been told to keep pets away from potentially infected animals. The council said it was "monitoring and responding" to the outbreak and Public Health Scotland (PHS) had been informed. A spokesman said staff at The Helix were removing the dead birds. Contractors working near Kinnaird Ponds have also been made aware of the outbreak and are following extensive hygiene measures to prevent the spread. Anyone who comes across a dead bird is asked to report the sighting to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The council said: "The risk to the public remains low, but we urge residents to follow the guidance in place. "Dog owners should keep their pets away from dead or sick birds and be mindful that while dogs are not at direct risk, walking through contaminated areas can spread the virus to other locations, particularly where domestic birds may be present. "If you come across dead or visibly sick birds in public areas, please do not touch them and report sightings to Defra". Bird flu is a disease caused by a virus that infects birds and sometimes other animals, such as foxes, seals and otters. Transmission from birds to humans is rare and there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission. The dominant strain, known as H5N1, emerged in China in the 1990s. However, another subtype of the virus, H5N5, has also been detected around the UK and Europe in recent months. PHS said an "unprecedented outbreak of avian influenza" had exploded around the world in 2021. In 2023, large colonies of seabirds were killed off by the virus. PHS said 2024 had been quieter for cases, but they are on the rise among wild water birds. Protection zone in place after bird flu outbreak Should I worry about a bird flu pandemic?
