Two more flocks in British Columbia have been infected with
the high-pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza.
That brings the total to eight flocks on seven farms, all of
them clustered close together in the Chiliwack-Abbotsford area.
Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, Canada's chief veterinary officer,
said the new infections did not come as a surprise and he suggested more could
turn up in the coming days.
In fact, another farm is under investigation, he said.
"The identification of additional farms is not
unexpected, given that avian influenza is highly contagious," Kochhar said
during a conference call with reporters.
So far seven countries have banned Canadian poultry
because of the outbreaks first identified last week.
Among the seven are the United States, Mexico, Japan and
South Korea.
