May 1, 2004

 

 

New Suspected Bird Flu Case At Duck Farm In Canada

 

A commercial duck farm in Chilliwack is under suspicion of having the avian flu, representing potentially the first evidence of the virus in that domestic species and in that region of the Fraser Valley since the disease outbreak occurred more than two months ago in chickens.

Ducks can carry the avian flu virus without fatal consequences, and this particular commercial flock has shown no signs of sickness.

 

A broad test of the flock raised suspicions, and more detailed testing is underway at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's lab in Winnipeg to determine if it is the same H7N3 strain that is killing poultry.

 

"In the initial test, we were concerned in the background that there might be avian influenza," Cornelius Kiley, the CFIA's regional veterinarian, confirmed in an interview Tuesday. "The initial test gives a slight indicator that there could be avian influenza there."

 

Kiley said the birds were tested under a routine policy requiring that flocks be shown not to have the avian flu before being trucked to slaughter.

 

The results of the latest, more detailed testing should be known by today or Thursday.

 

Ron Lewis, the province's director of animal health in Abbotsford, said that most of the time, ducks carry flu types that don't pose a threat to commercial poultry.

 

"Ducks carry different strains of influenza, and some are not of any concern," he said.

 

Federal officials initially said wild ducks were the most likely cause of the outbreak.

 

Asked whether domestic ducks could just as easily be the source, Lewis said: "Certainly it's possible. We just don't know that yet.

 

"It would be mere idle speculation to think that.

 

"But there's no question we know waterfowl are capable of carrying influenza viruses without any problem."

 

Kiley said the federal suspicion that wild ducks are the initial source is based on the available world-wide information, and he wouldn't speculate on whether domestic ducks might be the source.

 

"We know ducks have a greater level of resistance to avian influenza virus," he said. "That would also apply to domestically farmed ducks."

 

The farm under investigation is owned by Laura and Arie-Jan Van Maren and is located on six hectares in the 9200-block of Banford Road, two kilometres east of downtown Chilliwack.

 

Laura Van Maren said government officials took about 60 birds on Saturday, and called back on Sunday to report "our ducks tested positive."

 

Officials returned Monday and took close to 200 more birds for testing. "It's kind of stressful," she said, noting the "birds will be dead" as soon as they are shown to contain the avian flu.

 

The ducks are usually sold in local markets, including Chinatown.

 

Van Maren said the farm has never had any problems with avian flu in the past, and said she's heard no one talk about domestic duck farms as a potential source for the virus.

 

An estimated 19 million domestic birds -- chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese -- will be slaughtered in the Fraser Valley by May 21.

 

So far, 39 commercial farms and 10 backyard flocks have tested positive for avian flu since the outbreak was confirmed on Feb. 19.