A trip to a family wedding in Holland has led to an extended vacation in downtown Vancouver for feedlot operators Cor and Christine Van Raay.
The Picture Butte, Alta., couple have quarantined themselves in a downtown hotel room since returning from Holland last week. They were visiting family overseas when the first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred there. They immediately cut short their vacation and flew home to Canada, said their daughter Colleen, who is managing Cor Van Raay Farms with her two brothers in their absence.
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“They definitely want to set an example, especially for people coming back to the farm,” she said.
Her parents have drycleaned all their clothes, burned their shoes and used vinegar solutions to disinfect items like cameras. They plan to remain in Vancouver as long as 14 days, based on the recommendations of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“They want to totally eliminate the risk of bringing the virus back to the farm,” she said.
Ironically, Colleen said Cor is not “a big traveler” and has not been to Holland in a decade.
She said the local community is aware of the measures taken by her parents. At the feedlot, one of the largest in the province, they have posted signs limiting access to workers only. They are also advising their 50 employees to avoid contact with visitors from Europe. Colleen hopes others in her community will do the same.
“What worries everyone is that people are still visiting in our community (from Holland) and worry if all are taking measures.”
She said business has not been affected, and would not be “unless the virus came to Canada.”
Taking precautions
An informal survey of feedlot operators in the Lethbridge district indicate most are posting signs, discontinuing tours and refusing entry to unauthorized visitors. In addition, most are attending information meetings to learn more about the disease and precautionary measures.
“We will do this until we are completely sure it’s not coming into the country, probably over a year,” said Jim Corey, manager at Wiseman Feeders in Lethbridge.
John Nightingale, the CFIA’s veterinarian for southern Alberta, is fielding calls every hour about the disease. In his meetings with schools and farmers, he recommends that travelers from infected countries stay away from farms for a minimum of 48 hours and avoid contact with livestock for 14 days.
He said travelers should avoid bringing back items containing animal products.
There is a ban on animals products like semen and embryos from affected countries.
“The virus is quite hardy, but it’s also susceptible to some disinfectants.”
Nightingale recommended cleaning luggage with vinegar and washing clothes with laundry soap and sodium carbonate.
