November 29, 2005

Canada clears poultry farms within quarantine zone of bird flu

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has cleared all poultry farms of bird flu within the quarantine zone in Fraser Valley, where a local farm recently reported bird flu in its poultry.

Meanwhile, the USDA has narrowed its trade restriction to within five kilometres of the disease's epicenter in Fraser Valley.

Chief veterinarian with the US Animal Inspection Service, John Clifford, said the change was made as the virus strain in Fraser Valley was found to be a low pathogenic one.

He added that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's action to cull infected poultry also influenced the US decision to limit the ban.

Meanwhile, Canadian health officials would try to persuade other countries to lift their trade restrictions.