Poultry Flocks In Fraser Valley Quarantined For Avian Flu

The BC Ministry of Agriculture says seven commercial poultry farms in the Fraser Valley have been quarantined after testing positive for a highly infectious avian flu.

A statement from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture says the farms tested positive between Nov. 16 and Nov. 19.

Experts say the strain - H5N1 - has spread across the country, unlike other strains which generally remain isolated in one area.

Six of the farms are in Abbotsford and one is in Chilliwack.

It’s the same area where 17-million birds were culled after bird flu spread through numerous farms in 2004.

There have been three dozen cases of avian flu in the province since the first confirmation of the virus in April. B.C.'s chief veterinarian issued an order in September requiring all quota-holding poultry operations to maintain indoor operations.

All infected farms have been placed under quarantine and producers within a 10-kilometre radius have been notified.

The ministry says the risk of avian flu to flocks in B.C. increases in the spring and fall, with the migration of waterfowl and other birds.