Latest news with #YutaroSasaki
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
First ever detection of avian influenza among domestic birds on P.E.I.
Recently, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a small poultry flock in Kings County, P.E.I. In a statement to The Guardian on May 21, CFIA noted that it is the first detection in domestic birds in Prince Edward Island. 'The detection is not unexpected as the virus has been circulating in wildlife and wild birds in Eastern Canada throughout the current HPAI outbreak,' read the statement. The statement added that new cases of avian influenza are not uncommon as the risk of avian influenza for domestic poultry tends to increase during the spring and fall migration of wild birds. 'The Agency does not release specific details about the operations of individual farms in order to help protect the privacy of producers, however the Agency can confirm that this detection was at a non-commercial poultry premises,' said the statement. The CFIA says human infections with avian influenza are rare and usually occur after close contact with infected birds or highly contaminated environments. The CFIA has implemented a primary control zone (PCZ) for the infected premises. 'A PCZ mitigates the risk of disease spread by controlling movements of designated animals and things through the use of CFIA permits,' read the statement. All commercial and backyard poultry producers, regardless of the size of their flocks, are encouraged to remain vigilant of HPAI and ensure they have biosecurity measures in place, said the CFIA. These measures include: In a statement to The Guardian on May 20, the P.E.I. Association of Exhibitions encouraged local poultry owners and exhibitors to remain vigilant and implement recommended biosecurity practices to minimize risks. 'As the situation evolves, we will provide updates to our fairs, festivals and exhibitions at which time our plans will be adjusted accordingly,' read the statement. At this time, the association's planning for summer exhibitions remains unchanged. 'However, we recognize the importance of biosecurity measures and will continue to assess any potential impacts on events involving poultry or other birds,' read the statement. The primary source of infection of farmed birds in Canada is most likely through contact or contamination from the wild bird population, said the CFIA. 'This includes contaminated manure, litter, clothing, footwear, vehicles, equipment, feed and water,' the statement said. When cases of avian influenza are confirmed, CFIA says that response measures include movement restriction, disease containment and surveillance in order to control the spread and eradicate the disease. 'Quarantine and animal movement controls are placed on infected premises, and any poultry operations that may have had contact with infected premises,' said the CFIA. Non-commercial poultry operations are premises with fewer than 1,000 birds in total, and less than 300 waterfowl. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached by email at ysasaki@ and followed on X @PEyutarosasaki.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
How to dispose of spring yard debris in P.E.I.
This year's first round of P.E.I. residential yard debris collection takes place Island-wide during the weeks of May 5 and May 19. In a statement to The Guardian, the Island Waste Management Corporation says to place the yard debris materials curbside by 7 a.m. on the Monday of each week. 'Drivers have the full week to collect yard debris (including Saturday), so the yard debris collection may not be on its regular cart day,' read the statement. Yard debris must also be within six feet of the curb. Line the bags and/or bundles along the roadside (not up the driveway), the statement added. Drivers will only visit the resident's area for spring cleanup once per week. That is why materials must be curbside by 7 a.m. on Monday, IWMC said. The two-container or item limit for excess waste is waived for waste (black) cart collection during the spring cleanup. 'Residents can place properly sorted waste material curbside in clear plastic bags, rigid containers, or bundled together by 7 a.m. on their regular waste cart collection days during spring cleanup,' read the statement. Accepted yard debris materials include grass clippings, leaves, branches, twigs and brush. The guidelines for waste materials are the same as they are for regular waste collection during the year, said the IWMC. Materials must be less than 50 pounds and four feet in any dimension. Larger material can be cut, bundled and tied to meet guidelines. Solid coloured bags or blue bags are never accepted. Residents must use clear and transparent bags, IWMC said. Some examples of waste items the corporation gave include small wooden chairs, old torn clothing, rolled up mats and coiled and tied garden hoses. Residents can place yard debris in paper bags or compostable film bags with BPI or BNQ certification logos or rigid containers. The following items are never collected curbside but are accepted for free disposal year-round at local Waste Watch Drop-Off Centers: Construction and demolition materials, such as house renovation materials, must also be taken to a Waste Watch Drop-Off Center for a fee, IWMC said. Yutaro Sasaki is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. He can be reached at ysasaki@ and followed on X @PEyutarosasaki .
