cited in AVMA journal, February 2009), has led to increased antibiotic resistance, creating super-bugs that
can withstand medical treatment in humans.
fact carrying strains of bacteria (salmonella, in the case of this research). Some of these bacterial strains
were resistant to at least some antibiotics and could be harmful to humans. The researchers stated: "The
abundance of infected but asymptomatic hosts in all provinces represent a serious threat to food safety.
Asymptomatic carriers can [also] have a significant role in the contamination of the environment and other
animals, since large volumes of the bacterium can be excreted during fattening, transport and slaughter"
(Perron GG, Quessy, S, Bell G cited in National Post. 2008). The salmonella strains also included a number
that were resistant to one or more antibiotics. It was found that treatment of patients with ampicillin, a
"broad-spectrum" antibiotic commonly prescribed in such cases would result in treatment failure in 50% of
patients.
stated that changing what livestock are fed and keeping their living conditions more hygienic will be
necessary in the battle against bacteria-borne-illnesses in humans (Blackwell, Tom. Healthy Livestock can
carry harmful bateria, National Post, 2008).
birds. In response, the federal government and poultry producers developed mandatory biosecurity rules for
producers, such as keeping gates closed to reduce foot and vehicle traffic. By January 2009, Ron Lewis,
B.C.'s chief veterinarian stated that well over 90 per cent of all poultry farms in the province had been
biosecurity certified, and that the remaining farms had only minor problems left to fix (Shelton, Chad.
Vancouver Sun. 2009).
Influenza is from high-density poultry farming and its resultant hygiene issues. In 2005, a United Nations
task force recognized this and even the poultry industry trade journal World Poultry listed factors creating the
ideal breeding grounds for disease as: "inadequate ventilation, high stocking density, poor litter conditions,
poor hygiene, high ammonia level, concurrent diseases and secondary infections" (Hafez HM. 2003).
Because the birds are in such closed, crowded and unsanitary conditions, the virus is able to move quickly
from one bird to the next.
commercial poultry operation in southern B.C. Thousands of birds were again culled in an attempt to control
spread of the disease, and again the barns and equipment were cleaned and disinfected as had been done
in 2004. However, while the government attempts to quell fears by insinuating that producers in the area
must not have observed biosecurity measures, the true cause overcrowding, filthy conditions, dying birds
left to suffer, and dead corpses left to rot in the barns continue unabated.