Canada has suspended imports of live birds, bird products, byproducts and feathers from Switzerland until further notice due to confirmation of Newcastle disease in that country.
Only commercially sterile, cooked canned avian meat products from Switzerland will be allowed, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a notice to industry participants Thursday.
The suspensions take place effective immediately.
No restrictions will be put in place for pet birds, CFIA said.
Newcastle was confirmed by testing Oct. 8 on a farm south of Bern and reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on Wednesday, the OIE said.
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Only two animals on the farm, a pair of pigeons from a hobby flock, are confirmed to have been infected and to have died from the disease.
“The most likely origin of the infection is a contact with wild pigeons,” OIE said in a report Wednesday, adding that the birds had “no contact with poultry.”
Swiss chief veterinary officer Hans Wyss said in the OIE report Wednesday that the event is considered “resolved.” No other measures would be taken or reports submitted, the OIE said.
