Poultry farmers need to be extra careful

Poultry farmers in Saint-Félix-de-Valois are in vigilance mode following announcements of outbreaks of avian flu in the country by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The virus (H5N1), which first appeared in Canada earlier this year, is believed to kill nearly 90% of the birds it infects.

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The Municipality is one of the most important poultry production centers in all of eastern America. Several million chickens, hens, eggs and hatching eggs are produced there annually. Poultry farms are very susceptible to the spread of bird flu, salmonellosis and campylobacteriaceae. For example, the most recent episode of avian flu contamination in Canada in 2015 led to a drastic adjustment of health control measures. The mayoress of Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Audrey Boisjoly, therefore invites breeders to be extra careful.

“With the high concentration of chicken coops and the presence of the hatchery in Saint-Félix-de-Valois, we ask everyone to be very vigilant. The stakes are enormous, because a single case will have impacts for everyone. »

Inspections by the Planning Department, prevention visits by the Protection and Emergency Response Department, as well as visits by the Evaluation Department of the MRC de Matawinie have been interrupted or are by appointment only to all poultry farms to reduce the risk.

All citizens who have a domestic poultry farm (duck, turkey, goose, hen, etc.) must be very vigilant and are obliged to apply the strictest biosecurity measures. In addition, it is recommended to avoid contact with wild birds.

The CFIA reminds that anyone with farm animals must adopt good biosecurity practices to prevent its spread. This also concerns delivery people, representatives and service providers who have to go to breeding sites. For more information, you can consult the CFIA website at https://inspection.canada.ca/sante-des-animaux/animauxterrestres/maladies/declaration-obligatoire/influenza-aviaire/fra/1323990856863/1323991018946

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