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Avian flu detected on Vancouver Island in small Comox Valley poultry flock

Click to play video: 'B.C. poultry and egg farmers increase safety measures to protect their birds from avian flu'
B.C. poultry and egg farmers increase safety measures to protect their birds from avian flu
B.C. farmers are taking extra precautions to protect their birds from a highly contagious strain of avian flu. B.C. egg farmer and president of the B.C. Egg Producer Association Mark Seimens talks to Global News Morning about the protective measures being put in place to prevent the virus from spreading further. – May 11, 2022

A small poultry flock in British Columbia’s Comox Valley has tested positive for the avian flu, the first case on Vancouver Island.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a release that the H5N1 virus has now been found in seven flocks across the province.

It said the infected location has been placed under quarantine and the Ministry of Agriculture has notified producers within a 12-kilometre radius about the positive test result.

Click to play video: 'New B.C. avian flu cases highlight the risk to backyard flocks'
New B.C. avian flu cases highlight the risk to backyard flocks

The agency says it presumes the flu spreads through contact with infected migrating wild birds and is reminding owners to reduce human access to the flock and increase cleaning of clothing and footwear when entering areas where they are housed.

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B.C. has extended its order for all commercial poultry operators with more than 100 birds to move their flocks indoors until June 13.

Avian flu cases have been confirmed in several other provinces, but no infections have been detected in humans.

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