Manitoba chicken and turkey producers are tightening up bio-security at their farms, which means not even the soles of your shoes are clean enough to visit one. It's because of an increasing number of avian flu cases being reported in neighbouring provinces and states.
"It is a scare to your livelihood,” said Janneke Hamstra, a local chicken producer.
Her family's farm raises more than 200,000 chickens a year. Right now, every one of them has an increased risk of contracting the avian flu if they're in contact with wild birds or any of their bodily fluids.
"If a bird flies over and does a dropping, we can't control that, but what we try to control is that being tracked into a production facility," said Wayne Hiltz, the executive director of Manitoba Chicken Producers.
Three weeks ago, Manitoba's chicken and turkey farms were put on high bio-security alert - rules put in place preventing visitors from going in production facilities, and making sure staff aren't tracking in contaminated soil.
Provincial agriculture officials also are preparing, just in case the avian flu is found here in Manitoba. They haven't had any positive cases yet, but there have been scares.
"We've had two in the last couple of months... And thankfully both of them have come back negative," said Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Megan Bergman.
At Granny's Poultry, hatchery staff members are taking foot baths and trucks are sanitized when going in and out of production facilities. They're also installing wild bird security.
"So if a bird flies close by, a light goes off and scares the bird away," said Craig Evans, CEO of Granny's Poultry, while standing outside his facility Monday.
He, along with all poultry producers, know there's always a chance they could lose a flock to illness, which is why flocks stay under lock and key all year, no matter the risk.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said avian flu does not pose a risk to food safety, especially when products are handled and cooked properly.
