An OMAFRA Poultry Specialist says the keys to controlling this year's outbreak of Avian Flu were communications and sound bio-security practices.
Al Dam points out only three properties in Ontario were affected and without good communications and sound bio-security practices the problem would have been much worse.
Dam says while the crisis is over, the potential for another outbreak remains.
He suggests bio-security is a 24-hour a day 365-day a year issue for the poultry industry.
Dam says the viral load in the wild bird population and their migration every spring and fall is an issue.
He also explains the next outbreak may be a different disease altogether.
Dam stresses the best defense against Avian Flu or any other disease is consistently sound bio-security and good communications when ever a concern arises.
Producers can go to Canadian Food Inspection Agency or the Feather Board Command Centre web site for more information.
Dam explains that every fall and every spring roughly 100-million birds fly over our area and there's no way of knowing what they might be carrying.
The OMAFRA Poultry Specialist was one of the speakers at the recent Poultry Producer Update in Brodhagen.
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Al Dam told producers at the recent Poultry Update in Brodhagen the outbreak could have been much worse.
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The OMAFRA poultry specialist cautions, however, that there is some danger in becoming complacent now that the crisis is over.
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