British Columbia Mainland Poultry

(November 23, 2005)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that a low pathogenic H5 North American strain of avian influenza virus has been detected in a duck on a farm in British Columbia. This particular virus subtype is not the type currently circulating in Asia and would cause only mild disease, if any at all, in exposed birds. There is no new risk to public health according to CFIA.

However, as a precautionary control measure, the USDA is placing restrictions on all live poultry and other birds from mainland British Columbia; to include all raw poultry/avian meat and raw poultry/avian products produced on or after November 19, 2005 (this includes commodities which have existing permits). This restriction does not include Vancouver Island. All commercial shipments from British Columbia must have CFIA certification indicating the production date.

Additional guidelines are as follows:

• Shipments of these commodities from provinces other than British Columbia must demonstrate proof of origin to enter the United States.
• Raw poultry/avian products produced before November 19, 2005, from anywhere in Canada are allowed entry.
• Cooked poultry/avian commodities are allowed entry from any province with appropriate certification for commercial shipments. Cooked poultry/avian products in passenger baggage from any province are allowed entry.
• Hunted avian commodities accompanied by a valid hunting permit from a province other than British Columbia will be allowed entry.