Jim Rogers (202) 690-4755
Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
Statement by Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Regarding Avian Influenza in Canada
November 28, 2005
“Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reducing restrictions placed on imports of live birds and poultry products from mainland British Columbia following a November 19 detection of avian influenza (AI) in commercial ducks. Because the pathogenicity of the virus was initially unknown, APHIS restricted imports from all of mainland British Columbia . The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has since confirmed that the virus is one of the low pathogenicity forms of AI, and based on that fact and information that Canada has provided on survey and eradication measures, APHIS is modifying the quarantine area to a designated 5-kilometer zone within the province.
The AI found in mainland British Columbia poses no significant threat to human health. It was detected through ongoing surveillance efforts in Canada , much like the survey efforts that are in place in the United States . It is different from the particular strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detected in Asia and parts of Eastern Europe.
AI viruses can be classified into low pathogenicity and high pathogenicity forms based on the severity of the illness they cause in poultry. Most AI strains are classified as low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) and cause few clinical signs in infected birds. APHIS currently has an interlocking system of safeguards in place to protect the U.S. poultry industry from AI, including trade restrictions as appropriate, as well as ongoing federal-state-industry surveillance, emergency preparedness and outreach programs to ensure early detection and rapid response to any signs of the virus. For more information on AI, please visit APHIS’ Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov."