Butterfield Acres reopens following closure caused by avian influenza

Butterfield Acres, located at 254077 Rocky Ridge Rd. N.W., in Calgary, Alta.

Officials with Butterfield Acres have announced the reopening of the northwest Calgary farm following confirmed cases of avian influenza.

Butterfield Acres voluntarily closed on Oct. 13.

By Oct. 16, the facility had – according to Alberta Health Services (AHS) – notified officials of multiple cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

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AHS then issued a formal closure for the farm on Oct. 17.

In a statement on its website, Butterfield Acres says it worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and AHS to complete all required cleaning, disinfection and biosecurity measures, and has now been “cleared to resume business.”

“While none of our other animals were affected, we had to say goodbye to all our birds in accordance with CFIA requirements,” reads the statement. “We are thinking long and hard as to how we can protect our feathered friends from this threat posed by the natural migration of the wild birds.”

No staff were affected, according to officials, and 20 members of the public that were tested were negative.

“A giant ‘thank you’ to everyone for all your care and concern and offers of support in so many ways,” reads the statement. “Let’s just say this was a very stressful and overwhelming experience.”