January 29, 2009

The destruction of an estimated 60,000 birds on a British Columbia farm where a low-pathogenic strain of avian influenza was found has been completed, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday (January 28).

The CFIA confirmed the presence of an H5 type of avian influenza at a commercial turkey farm in Abbotsford on Saturday. Upon the discovery, an immediate quarantine was placed on all poultry operations within a three-kilometre radius.

Further testing also remains underway to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus, the CFIA said in a news release Wednesday.

Now that the cull has been completed, the CFIA will oversee the cleaning and disinfection of the barns, vehicles, equipment and tools to eliminate any infectious material that may remain, according to the agency's Web site.

The CFIA, in the release, said 22 other poultry operations within the three-kilometre zone remain under quarantine and are being closely monitored for signs of illness.

Another farm outside the three-kilometre radius has been placed under quarantine as well, because of equipment movement between it and the infected farm, the CFIA said.

All other commercial flocks tested within the three-kilometre zone have been negative for avian influenza, the CFIA said. Surveillance testing will continue weekly for a 21-day period.

Early test results indicate the type of avian influenza found in British Columbia is not the highly pathogenic H5N1 type that has killed more than 250 people in Asia, Europe and Africa.