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MINISTER DECLARES AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTROL AREA IN SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

OTTAWA, March 11, 2004 - Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Bob Speller declared today the establishment of a control area in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia (B.C.) to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The declaration follows the detection of avian influenza on two farms in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.

Earlier this week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that low and high pathogenic strains of the H7 virus were found on the first farm. Today, the CFIA confirmed the detection of the H7 virus on a second farm. While the pathogenicity of the virus found on the second farm has yet to be confirmed, the CFIA is proceeding with the depopulation of the birds on that farm.

The movement of any bird that is in captivity, including pet birds, day-old chicks and hatching eggs, any product or by-products of a bird, and anything which has been exposed to a bird, into, out of or within the control area is now restricted.

Under certain conditions, the CFIA will issue permits to allow the movement of birds and other affected products within the area. Permits will also allow movement into the area. These conditions and instructions on obtaining movement permits will be available on March 12, 2004 through the CFIA’s Website at www.inspection.gc.ca.

The control area is the Fraser Valley in British Columbia. This area is bordered on the north by the North Shore Mountain Range of the Fraser Valley, on the south by the United States border, on the West by the Georgia Strait, and on the East by a line running north south through the Hunter Creek Weigh Scale of the Province of British Columbia. The control area includes the Greater Vancouver Area, but not Vancouver Island or the Okanagan Valley.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious infection in birds and can spread quickly if not controlled. The risk to human health remains low.

For more information on the control area, please call the CFIA’s regional office at (778) 808-1176, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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