Lifting of Ontario avian flu quarantines behind schedule

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  Andrea Gantz

  Avian influenza quarantine zones remain in place in Oxford County, Ontario, according to Canadian officials.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Two avian influenza control zones put in place by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in the spring were initially expected to be lifted in June, but the control zones are still in place. As a result, more than 50 poultry farms in Ontario’s Oxford County are still under quarantine.
  The quarantines include a 10 kilometer area around the infected properties. The quarantines are still in place as the three farms continue to be cleaned and disinfected. Once the disinfection is completed, 21 more days must follow before the quarantines can be lifted, according to CFIA.
  Ontario’s first case of avian influenza, confirmed on April 7, was in a commercial flock of 44,800 turkeys. The second case in the Canadian province was in a broiler breeder farm and was confirmed on April 18. An estimated 27,000 birds were affected in the second outbreak. The third case, confirmed on April 29, involved a flock of 8,000 commercial turkeys. All three cases were in Oxford County.
  Since that time, no other avian influenza cases have been confirmed in Ontario.
  Prior to avian influenza’s presence being found in Ontario, the only other cases of the virus were found in British Columbia. On June 8, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) declared British Columbia to be free of avian influenza. The outbreaks in the two Canadian provinces are not believed to be related.