The Animal Health Act enables the province to respond to animal diseases affecting animal health, public health, and food safety. The Act and its regulations are designed to control the spread of disease through inspections and surveillance, treatments, biosecurity measures, and control zones. The roles and duties of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian (CPV) of Alberta and inspectors are outlined. The Act requires an owner of an animal or authorized person to advise the CPV of suspected or confirmed reportable and notifiable diseases within 24 hours, at 780-427-3448 (M-F, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm) and at 1-800-524-0051 (after business hours).
Having strong animal health policy and practices protects animal health, public health, the environment and the agriculture industry. The Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian (OCPV) works closely with industry, other provinces, and various levels of government on animal disease prevention and control. This also requires providing information on and monitoring diseases, specifically those that are regulated in Alberta’s Animal Health Act and Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation.
Livestock Emergency Preparedness
The County of Warner is a member of the County of Warner Regional Emergency Partnership (CoWREP), which is a partnership with other municipalities within the geographical boundaries of the County of Warner. Other members include the Village of Coutts, Town of Milk River, Village of Warner, and Village of Stirling. CoWREP was formed to enable cohesive and coordinated emergency response throughout the County, sharing resources and supporting all partner communities in the event of a disaster. This includes planning for livestock emergency preparedness. For more information on CoWREP you can visit the Emergency Management section of the website by clicking HERE.
Avian Influenza
AI-2022NEOC Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) BIOSECURITY MEASURES FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR POULTRY FARMS
PURPOSE: To establish guidelines to aid in arresting the spread of Avian Influenza. Biosecurity measures will be adopted by Fire & Emergency Services for responses to poultry farms.
Please note: None of these procedures or guidelines should impede the protection of life or property.
SCOPE: This Guideline applies to all members of the Fire & Emergency Services personnel.
CONTEXT: • Avian Influenza, often called “bird flu”, is a viral infection that affects domestic and wild birds, including food-producing birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc.
• It is a highly infectious and contagious disease in poultry which can cause high rates of mortality in poultry and also requires large scale depopulation of flocks when detected in domestic birds. This creates significant financial losses for producers and industry and impacts the supply chain.
• The disease can easily spread to birds through contact with infected poultry and poultry products. It can also spread through contaminated manure, litter, clothing, footwear, vehicles, equipment, feed and water.
• Strict biosecurity measure are critical to mitigating spread of this disease
GUIDELINE: For fire and emergency services responders, any personnel directly related to the poultry industry (owner operators, or employees of same) are asked NOT to respond to fire or emergency incidents occurring on other poultry operations. This restriction in attendance only applies when there is a confirmed outbreak OR during an official animal quarantine established through the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency).
The implementation of the biosecurity measures shall not jeopardize any Standard Operating Guideline or Procedure of the Fire & Emergency Services
NON INFECTED FARMS
In all cases, access to areas on farm that house birds should be avoided wherever possible.
Reference the accompanying document “General Biosecurity And Bio-containment Conditions To Be Followed By All Holders Of Licenses” for full requirements. Key biosecurity measures to adhere to whenever possible,:
1) Follow the farm operator’s biosecurity measures.
2) Whenever possible, park response vehicles off the property and limit the number of responders who enter the property. If driving onto the premises the vehicle should be free of all visible dirt and organic matter that could be dislodged from the vehicle and deposited on the site.
3) Avoid contact (people, vehicles and equipment) with barns, buildings and paddocks or fields where poultry, manure and poultry products are present.
4) Avoid contaminating the interior of the vehicle with soiled equipment or through contact with contaminated clothing or footwear.
5) Upon exiting the premises, if boot covers were not used, scrub boots until completely clean and spray with disinfectant. Remove jackets/outer clothing such as coveralls and place in a bag for laundering as soon as possible.
6) All equipment vehicles, and any other materials used by the fire or emergency responders should be cleaned of all visible organic matter on exit from the premises. If this cannot be accomplished on site, wash the vehicle and equipment with hot (where possible) water and a detergent as soon as feasible and prior to attending other poultry premises
INFECTED FARMS / PROPERTIES
The CFIA will have established cold, warm and hot zones on the infected property to manage the movements of people and equipment etc. onto and off of the site. The cold zone is considered clean/uncontaminated. The hot zone is considered dirty / contaminated. The warm zone is a transition area and considered partially contaminated. Where possible, entry into the warm and hot zone should be minimized
Key biosecurity measures to adhere to whenever possible:
1) Infected farms / properties will have “on site” security during active CFIA disease response. The security guards have been advised not to impede any emergency operations that may be required.
2) Any vehicle having entered onto the premises (into the warm or hot zones) must remain within the containment perimeter until direction is received from CFIA as to the means of decontamination and exit. This will usually entail an undercarriage truck wash to clean organic material (e.g. dirt) from the chassis, wheels and truck body. If the necessary decontamination cannot take place onsite due to the specific fire or emergency services response activity (e.g. ambulance departure) please work with the CFIA to define how and when this decontamination must be complete. All equipment must be decontaminated before entering another agricultural premises.
3) Decontamination of the vehicle will include washing the vehicle and equipment with water and a detergent, then applying disinfectant to all affected surfaces, including interior floor mats. Soak a rag in the disinfectant spray and wiping down seats, steering wheels and other interior surfaces. Spray disinfectant on the pavement after the vehicle has been moved.
4) If entry into the warm or hot zone has occurred, arrangements should be made with CFIA for the proper exit decontamination of personnel and gear. Turnout gear, boots and equipment used on the premises must remain within the containment perimeter until instruction is received from CFIA as to their disposition or decontamination. Usually this will entail washing to remove organic matter followed by disinfection. Personnel will doff turn out clothing at the containment perimeter and will be required to launder personal or uniform clothing in hot water and dried on high heat, as well as shower at the earliest opportunity before changing to clean clothes and prior to attending other poultry premises.
NOTE: Hand Sanitizers and approved disinfectants such as Virkon or Prevail can be used as per label directions. Ensure shiny wet contact time for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Caution – Virkon and Prevail may degrade respirators, tanks and regulators – along with other equipment. There should be consultation before sensitive or metallic equipment is exposed to disinfectant. It is recommended to rinse the surface with water after contact time has been achieved.
The solution should be mixed just prior to usage.
Wear eye protection, N 95 respirators and nitrile gloves when mixing or applying the disinfectant solution
Foot and Mouth Disease
