No cross-border travel for Sask. birds

Published: October 2, 2007

A ban on movement of live birds out of Saskatchewan is among the latest biosecurity restrictions in place following last week’s confirmation of a strain of avian flu on a south-central poultry farm.

The farm, found between the communities of Lumsden and Regina Beach northwest of Regina, is the centre of an “infected region” with a three-kilometre radius and a “restricted region” with a 10-km radius. The farm was quarantined and its flock depopulated when a number of chickens were found to have been killed by the H7N3 strain of avian influenza.

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Unlike the H5N1 strain blamed for crossing over into human victims in Asia and beyond, H7N3 is not known to cause such severe illness in humans.

    Restrictions announced in a public notice posted Sunday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency include:
  • a ban on movement of live farmed birds out of the province or into the “infected region;”
  • permits required to move birds, bird products and farm equipment within or from the “restricted region”; and
  • permits required to move live birds and hatching eggs from outside Saskatchewan across the province to other parts of the country (although movement of poultry products and table eggs remain unrestricted).
  • Movement of pet birds and hunter-killed birds out of the province is “under review” and people planning to haul such animals should contact CFIA for more information, the agency said.

    Movement of poultry and eggs bought at grocery stores remains unrestricted, as does the movement of birds, bird products and farm equipment within most of the province.

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