B.C. on high alert for avian flu as reports of dying wild birds surge
Wildlife rescue centers in British Columbia are overwhelmed with calls about dying or dead wild birds, with the founder of Elizabeth's Wildlife Center in Abbotsford saying it's the worst year they've seen. Elizabeth Melnick reports an average of 60 calls a day, with common reports of dying or dead cackling geese and other birds including snow geese and ducks. The centre cares for injured, orphaned and sick wild birds and small mammals, and in the event a bird is suspected to have avian flu, it is assessed in a quarantined area and then officials are contacted to humanely deal with the bird.
The B.C. Poultry Emergency Operations Centre says no infections have been reported on farms, but the province and farmers remain on high alert. The centre has implemented strict measures to protect domestic birds, including an indoor order for commercial poultry, closed farm gates, and personal protective equipment for farm workers. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has also stated that there are currently no detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds in B.C.
Dr. Chelsea Himsworth, B.C.'s deputy chief veterinarian, notes that wild birds are arriving "quite late" compared to what is expected, with a hypothesis that this is due to the El Niño weather event. While there are fewer birds out on the landscape and fewer sick and dead birds submitted to the program than last year, it's unclear whether this signals a lower case load or just a delay in cases.
Provincial authorities are monitoring avian flu with several tools, including testing dead wild birds and sampling feces and sediment in specific wetlands. The public is asked to report any bird deaths to the wild avian mortality investigation hotline, and not to touch the bird.
