AGRI Committee Report
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appendix 1
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS AVIAN INFLUENZA OUTBREAK
February 2004
16 February First farm quarantined |
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries detects AI in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and quarantines the farm. |
19 February First case of AI |
The CFIA receives test results confirming the presence of AI on the farm. The entire flock, consisting of approximately 16,000 birds, is depopulated. |
20 February Surveillance |
The CFIA launches a surveillance program of all poultry farms within a 5-km radius of the farm. The AI virus is identified as the low pathogenic form. |
March 2004
9 March Second farm quarantined |
Further tests reveal that both low and high pathogenic forms of the AI virus were present on the first farm. The CFIA announces the quarantine of a second farm where low levels of illness have been detected. The birds are depopulated three days later after the presence of AI is confirmed. |
11 March Control Area established |
In an attempt to control the spread of AI,
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24 March Flocks in High-Risk |
Five commercial farms and two backyard flocks have been confirmed to have AI. The CFIA announces that it will depopulate all the flocks in the High-Risk Region of the Fraser Valley |
29 March Farm outside High-Risk Region quarantined |
AI has been detected on six farms in the High-Risk Region. A farm outside the High-Risk Region is put under quarantine as a precautionary measure. |
31 March |
A total of 20 commercial farms and 6 backyard flocks have tested positive for AI within the Control Area. |
April 2004
5 April All flocks in Control |
On the recommendation of the CFIA, the Province of British Columbia and the poultry industry, Minister Speller announces the depopulation of all commercial poultry flocks and other backyard birds in the Control Area (approximately 19 million birds). Birds from non-infected farms will be processed under full inspection and be made available for sale. Access to farms is further controlled. |
8 April Movement restrictions |
Movement restrictions within the Fraser Valley Control Area are changed to allow products from the Control Area to be shipped across Canada. Poultry that tests negative for AI will be sent to market. |
29 April |
By this time, AI has been detected on 40 commercial farms and 10 smaller premises. Depopulation of poultry continues on a priority basis. |
May 2004
25 May |
AI has been detected on 42 farms and in 11 backyard flocks, all of which have been depopulated. |
28 May Depopulation suspended |
The CFIA suspends depopulation after slaughtering approximately 17 million birds in the Fraser Valley (90% of the estimated population). |
June 2004
8 June CFIA introduces a compensation package for birds that were depopulated |
Most of the birds that were slaughtered were able to go through normal commercial markets and receive market value. The CFIA introduces a compensation package for individuals who were unable to recover market value for their slaughtered birds. |
11 June Containment phase concluded |
The initial containment response is concluded, and the response is now entering the recovery phase. Movement controls on birds and bird products are still in effect. |
21 June Cleaning and disinfection |
All premises in the High-Risk Region have been cleaned and disinfected. Owners must wait 21 days before restocking their farms. Farms outside the High-Risk Region may be restocked. |
July 2004
9 July All premises in the High-Risk |
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26 July The CFIA compensates |
As of 14 December, the Agency had received more than 1,130 compensation requests and paid out approximately $63.5 million. |
August 2004
18 August Control Area eliminated |
The Control Area established to contain the outbreak of AI in the Fraser Valley has been eliminated and all domestic movement restrictions placed on birds and bird products have been lifted. Export restrictions remain in effect until further notice from importing countries. |