The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is releasing an update with April stats on federally reportable diseases.
As of April 30th, there have been 17 cases of avian influenza, with three in British Columbia, one in Alberta, three in Saskatchewan, and two in Manitoba.
As of the end of April, four cases of bovine TB had been detected in the single infected herd in Saskatchewan, where the initial animal spent most of its life. The depopulation of the infected herd is largely complete. The CFIA has identified and started testing higher-risk herds:
5 lifeline herds (herds traced from an infected animal in the infected herd) and 17 trace-out herds (herds that received animals from the infected herd).
The CFIA continues to identify and prepare for testing on trace-in herds (herds that provided animals to the infected herd), contact herds (herds that shared a fence line or may have co-mingled with the infected herd), and proximity herds (herds within 5 km of the infected herd).
Also on the list of federally reportable diseases, two cases of chronic wasting disease have been found in elk herds in Saskatchewan
And equine infectious anemia was confirmed in 16 horses located on a premise in the RM of Meadow Lake.
The horses had been tested by the CFIA as part of an ongoing disease investigation. No clinical signs of disease were noted at the time of sampling. The infected horses have a history of commingling with free-roaming horses in an area where the disease is endemic.
According to the CFIA an investigation is underway, and as per program policy, movement controls have been placed on the infected horses and any on-premises contact animals. Movement controls will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of confirmed cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises.