Avian flu concerns force show cancellation
The “fur and feathers” show here this weekend has been cancelled due to concerns about avian flu.
The Mount Forest show, a popular draw for animal breeders and enthusiasts, is hosted annually by the Saugeen Valley Fur and Feathers Fanciers Association.
On Monday the association stated on its Facebook page that it would continue with the April 26 show and sale - albeit with “increased biosecurity” - after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the association is “not in the (flu) control zone.”
However, on Tuesday afternoon, the association reversed course, cancelling the event.
“We sincerely apologize to everyone,” the group wrote on its Facebook page.
Earlier this week the CFIA confirmed the H5 avian flu virus at a second Oxford County farm in the Woodstock area, where 27,000 chickens were to be euthanized.
About 45,000 turkeys died or were euthanized after the avian flu strain was discovered at a first farm in early April.
