April 12, 2004

Bird Flu Discovered On Two More Farms In Canada
 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Saturday two more farms in the Fraser Valley are infected with bird flu.

But, said Dr. Cornelius Kiley, the CFIA's chief veterinarian for B.C., it's no surprise the farms were found to be infected because they were both near the high-risk region.

Kiley said one of the farms was within a group where the flu had been found already.

He said the other farm to test positive was also near the high- risk region.

The entire Fraser Valley is now considered an area of control.

Avian influenza has been confirmed at a total of 22 farms.

Kiley said officials are working around the clock to stamp out the flu's spread in the area, but said they still need to have time without any spreading.

"What would give us a good level of confidence, that we are completely stamping out this particular virus would be a two-to-three week period without the finding of no more cases," Kiley said.