The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries and Industry with effect from December 5, has imposed a temporary ban on all poultry, poultry meat products, processed internal organs of poultry raised, slaughtered or processed in Canada from mid-November.{{more}}

The ban on poultry products from Canada follows a similar ban on poultry products from the United Kingdom, which was announced on November 27.

The Ministry, in a release dated December 5, said authorities in Canada notified the World Animal Health Organization that there has been confirmation of two outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 strain (Bird Flu) on November 30, 2014 and confirmation on December 1, 2014.

According to the APHD, one outbreak occurred in Chilliwack, British Colombia on a broiler breeder farm and the other in Abbotsford, British Colombia on a meat turkey farm.

It was also reported that this event applied to the entire country and an epidemiological investigation has started in response to the outbreak.

However, they have not yet identified the source(s) of the outbreaks. Currently the control measures that have been implemented include the controlled movement of poultry in the country and destroying of affected flocks.

On Wednesday, December 3, 2014 two more farms in the South West, British Colombia were placed under quarantine as part of the control measures since these farms had recently traded with one of the farms where the outbreaks occurred.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries and Industry is therefore imposing a temporary ban which should be implemented with immediate effect, on all poultry, poultry meat products, processed internal organs of poultry raised, slaughtered or processed in Canada, from two weeks prior to the start of the outbreaks.

On November 27, 2014, a temporary ban was also placed on the importation of all poultry products from the United Kingdom.

The ban was imposed due to information received from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the United Kingdom confirming that the country recently experienced an outbreak of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The ban on all poultry products from the United Kingdom and Canada will remain in effect until further notice.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus – referred to as HPAI H5N1 and sometimes shortened to H5N1 – is a virus that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly, especially to domestic poultry. Though relatively rare, sporadic human infections with this virus have occurred and caused serious illness and death.