March 9, 2006

Bird flu quarantines on two Canadian poultry farms lifted

Quarantines have been lifted from two Quebec poultry farms that tested negative for bird flu, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Mar 8.

The fowls, imported from France where the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected on a farm, were released from the 30-day quarantines. The CFIA said precautionary bird flu tests for the poultry on the initial eight Quebec farms showed negative results.

The CFIA said quarantines on the remaining six farms should be lifted soon, provided the health reports are good.

Canada imposed restrictions on French poultry imports after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected in France in February.