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A neighbouring flock was wiped out and due to Gabriola Island’s size (58 square kilometres), all small flocks are situated in the control zone. Unfortunately the strain that my community is currently contending with is also H5N1. positive commercial farm were also euthanized as a preemptive measure. In addition, 553 small flocks that were situated within a designated radius of an A.I. Before the virus was controlled, 17 million chickens in the Fraser Valley were sent to slaughter to prevent the further spread of the devastating disease. In 2004, British Columbia experienced an outbreak that affected the highest concentration of commercial chicken farms in the province. The H5N1 strain is considered endemic and large outbreaks occur intermittently. has spread throughout parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. In the last two decades high pathogenic A.I. Mortality rates can reach 80-100% within 48 hours. H5N1 is a high pathogenic form that causes disease in chickens and other species of birds, which affects multiple internal organs. There are 16 H types and 9 N types, which can be found in different combinations. is further divided into subtypes based on the two proteins, haemaglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), found on their surfaces. Thankfully the virus isn’t spread from hens to chicks via the egg.Ī.I. And it’s totally safe to eat poultry or eggs. You’re much more to get sick from one of the common strains of flu that circulate each year. Just in case you’re panicking about contracting H5N1 from your flock – it’s possible, but this isn’t a common occurrence. There is no cure and vaccines are not widely available. High pathogenic, however, causes severe disease in domestic poultry who have no natural immunity, with a high mortality rate. Waterfowl are a natural reservoir for low pathogenic strains that cause minimal or no signs of disease in poultry and wild birds and, is therefore, not a serious threat. virus is divided into high (HPAI) and low pathogenic (LPAI) strains based on their ability to cause disease. It can survive outside a host for long periods depending on salinity, pH, organics, temperature and humidity of the environment: up to one month inside a poultry house at 4.5✬/40✯ and in freshwater lakes for over 30 days at freezing temperatures. AI is a naturally occurring virus that many birds are susceptible to becoming infected by, whether they become symptomatic or not.