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 Dec. 14, 2005
Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is modifying restrictions placed on imports of live birds and poultry products from British Columbia as a result of the detection of a low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus in the province on November 19. This follows a request by Canada and is consistent with avian influenza (AI) guidelines of the World Animal Health Organization.
The border with British Columbia initially closed following a November 19 detection of 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 later confirmed that the virus was one of the low pathogenicity forms of AI found in North America , and based on that fact and information that Canada has provided on survey and eradication measures, APHIS modified the quarantine area to a designated 5-kilometer zone within the province on November 28. Import restrictions on that 5-kilometer zone are modified with today’s action.
At this time import restrictions are in place at the two facilities where the virus was originally detected. Live birds and unprocessed products, other than meat or eggs, will be prohibited entry into the United States from those facilities. This restriction will be in place for 90 days after the facilities have been disinfected Canada has made no further detections of AI in this zone.
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 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 this Web site http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome click on Spotlight—Avian Influenza.