Bird flu found on two more Canadian farms
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-11 13:59

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Saturday two more farms in the Fraser Valley are infected with the Avian flu.

But, according to Dr Cornelius Kiley, the CFIA's chief veterinarian for the province of British Columbia, it's no surprise the farms were found to be infected because they were both near the high-risk region.

Avian influenza has been confirmed at 22 farms in the B.C. Fraser Valley. [CPonline]

Kiley said one of the farms was within a group where the flu had been found already. He said the other farm to test positive was also near the high-risk region. Avian influenza has been confirmed at a total 22 farms.

The entire Fraser Valley is now considered an area of control.

Kiley said officials are working around the clock to stamp out the flu spreading in the area but said they still need to have time without spreading.

"What would give us a good level of confidence, that we are completely stamping out this particular virus would be a two-to-three week period without the finding of no more cases," Kiley said in Abbotsford.

Industry and government are now working to get uninfected, frozen birds out of the area and into markets in the rest of British Columbia and across Canada.

"We can use this product for an end-use situation which would mean going directly to institutions, restaurants, or whatever so that it can not be mixed with other Canadian poultry products that go for export," Kiley said.

Some countries have instituted only partial bans on Canadian poultry, accepting products from all provinces except British Columbia.

The movement of some poultry to market has partially alleviated the stress on producers losing millions of dollars a day under the shipment ban.

They have complained that Ottawa is uninformed and moving far too slowly, urging decision-makers to set up camp in the Fraser Valley so maker informed decisions fast.

Health Canada confirmed Saturday there have been no new cases found in humans.

Dr Theresa Tam said they are still waiting confirmation from blood tests, but so far it looks like only two farm workers contracted the disease.

"We have 15 workers who came into contact with poultry we are keeping an eye on who have shown some signs of respiratory or cold-like symptoms," she said.

While Agriculture Minister John van Dongen agreed it is too early to determine the extent of any compensation, he has said the province will insist Ottawa keeps its promise about financial help.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Seven Chinese kidnapped in Iraq are freed         New policy eases one-child restrictions         Beijing reaffirms stand against independence         One woman's torturous passage to America         China's foreign trade remains in deficit         Satellite gets rave reviews	Russians are latest Iraq hostages       Stampede for sarees kills at least 21 Indian women       9 hostages freed in Iraq, Japanese still held       Israeli sources say Sharon's plans to get US nod       Bush was satisfied on pre-9/11 probes       Fragile cease-fire holds in Fallujah