The discovery of H1N1 in an Ontario turkey breeder flock in mid-October
provided Hybrid Turkeys with a valuable lesson – that when it comes to
disease, human health concerns trump agriculture. It was also a good
reminder to everyone in the poultry industry that humans continue to be
a significant threat to birds when it comes to introducing disease into
the barn.
The discovery of H1N1 in an Ontario turkey breeder flock in mid-October provided Hybrid Turkeys with a valuable lesson – that when it comes to disease, human health concerns trump agriculture. It was also a good reminder to everyone in the poultry industry that humans continue to be a significant threat to birds when it comes to introducing disease into the barn.
Unfortunately for Hybrid, public concern over H1N1 in October was high. Media attention fueled the fire – not a day went by without H1N1 at the forefront of every major newscast and newspaper in the country.
I understand that media had a responsibility to disseminate the Public Health Agency of Canada’s information but, as days passed, it seemed to me that media attention went from public duty to sheer irresponsibility. The attention Hybrid received certainly confirmed my belief.
The company did everything right: a self-imposed quarantine at the breeder farm was initiated when the drop in egg production was noticed, and samples were sent for testing. But once confirmation of novel H1N1 influenza virus came in, the company found itself in a media storm.
At the recent Poultry Innovations Conference, Hybrid Turkeys director of operations Scott Rowland spoke of the company’s experience (see article, page 34). He said the hunt for the affected farm was intense and one television network had to be threatened with legal action in order to back off.
From the start, Hybrid stressed that the infected birds were not destined for the dinner table and hired specialists to get its message across. The company also had support from the ministries of agriculture and health, and media soon lost interest.
The biggest lesson out of Hybrid’s H1N1 experience is how to manage potential threats. Despite having an extremely strict biosecurity protocol, the virus got into the barn via a worker. Showering and sanitizing skin is one thing, but it isn’t a cure for viruses that are shed from the lungs, nasal passages and throats.
Hybrid has said that it is now requiring visitors and employees to get vaccinated prior to entering the facility and employees must now wear masks, rubber gloves, and gowns. More changes are going to be implemented, although they were not discussed.
Hybrid’s experience, and the incidence of a worker infecting hogs on an Alberta farm in May, has shown that humans are still a considerable threat to animal health. Have we got to the point where we will have to start screening employees on their way in – perhaps using the type of lasers hospitals use to check if someone is feverish?
Certainly worker education will go a long way. It’s simple: if you’re sick, stay home. However, for many farmers and employees, health benefits are not an option and often labour is in short supply.
There are more human-animal and interspecies disease threats out there. It’s impossible to contain all of them, but we need to start asking ourselves what more needs to be done – including addressing the challenge of farm labour – if we are going to keep up with keeping them out.
All of us at Canadian Poultry magazine wish you and your families a joyous holiday season.
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