After a long period with nothing, the lower Fraser Valley
has had another outbreak of avian influenza, this time in an 80-bird backyard
flock of laying hens.
They have been destroyed and there’s a one-kilometre
quarantine zone in place.
But the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has said nothing
about this case.
Ray Nickel of the British Columbia Poultry Association said
it’s not clear what this new case will mean for commercial producers and the industry.
Earlier this month, officials said it would be summer before
the outbreaks could be officially declared over, paving the way for resumption of
normal operations, including international trade.
The lower Fraser Valley has had 11 outbreaks in commercial
flocks and one previous one in a backyard flock.
There have been a number of outbreaks in backyard flocks
across the border in Oregon, Washington, South Idaho and California states.
