Newsroom > News Releases / Information Bulletins 

AVIAN INFLUENZA CONFIRMED IN CONTROL AREA

OTTAWA, March 31, 2004 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today confirmed that avian influenza was present on a farm in the control area of British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. The CFIA quarantined the farm on Monday, March 29, after inconclusive tests suggested that birds on the farm may have been infected.

As well, the CFIA has quarantined a second farm in the control area on the basis of preliminary test results. The quarantine is a precautionary measure, and tests are ongoing to gain conclusive information about the farm’s disease status.

The risk to human health remains low. The strain of the virus detected in B.C. is not the same strain present in Asia.

Birds from this first control-area farm had been sent to slaughter before the disease was suspected. As regular practice, all birds slaughtered in B.C.’s federal and provincial slaughter establishments are thoroughly inspected. Through these inspections several birds from this farm were condemned and removed from the food system.

The food safety risk related to infected birds is considered to be very low. Given the rapid onset of clinical signs observed with avian influenza, it is unlikely that any infected birds would have proceeded undetected through the slaughter system.

The Agency has now confirmed avian influenza infection on seven commercial farms–six within the high-risk region and one in the broader control area. Given the highly contagious nature of the disease the possibility of finding further cases cannot be excluded. Avian influenza has also been detected in three small non-commercial flocks in the high-risk region. All birds from these non-commercial flocks have been destroyed as part of the ongoing depopulation process. Cleaning and disinfection of these and other depopulated premises in the region is progressing.

All needed resources are being dedicated to control the spread of avian influenza in the control area, and the CFIA is continuing its rigorous surveillance activities.

-30-

For more information:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations (613) 228-6682

• Main Page - Avian Influenza