April 26, 2004

 

 

Canada Bird Flu Spread Continues Unabated
 

The spread of bird flu in the Fraser Valley had a brief lull earlier this week. But it appeared to be on the march again on Friday.

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said ongoing surveillance has led to the detection of bird flu on 37 commercial premises. That was up one from Thursday and six from Monday. The agency said infected birds were also found at 10 so-called backyard lots and all have been slaughtered.

 

Since February 19, when the agency detected the presence of avian influenza on one farm in the province's agricultural heartland, the virus has spread primarily in the central Fraser Valley.

 

While more than 200 farms have tested negative for avian influenza, officials earlier this month made the decision to slaughter all 19 million chickens, turkeys and other birds in the valley in an attempt to eradicate the virus.

 

The agency has already exempted hobby pigeon owners from the cull, and other exotic birds may also be spared.

 

Most of the 19 million birds seem likely to be found virus-free and will go to market. More than one million infected birds - and uninfected birds in close proximity to infected ones - will be gassed and incinerated.

 

Earlier this week, the B.C. government said it had chosen a large, privately owned dairy farm near Abbotsford as the site for composting some poultry slaughtered.

 

According to international standards, all birds within a one-kilometre radius of a farm that has tested positive, must be destroyed regardless of whether they are infected or not.

 

The farm chosen to be used for disposal can take in excess of one million birds, which will be composted inside large "ag bags" laid out on a field.

 

The farmer will be paid $23.85 per cubic yard of decomposing chicken for the first 40,000 cubic yards. The price will drop to $20 per cubic yard after that.

 

Prisoners from institutions in the valley would be enlisted to help in the massive job.