Two more B.C. poultry farms quarantined for avian flu

Two Fraser Valley poultry farms — both of which received birds from one of two farms quarantined this week with confirmed cases of H5 avian influenza — are now also under federal quarantine.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday the two traceout farms were “determined to be at high risk” for avian flu. Birds on both farms were “also showing signs of illness,” the agency said.

It’s possible that additional at-risk farms may be identified “in the coming days,” the agency said, urging poultry farmers to report any “suspicious symptoms” to CFIA.

Tests are still underway to see if the strain of avian flu on any of the farms is of a high or low pathogenicity (“high-path” or “low-path”), and to confirm the virus subtype. Results are still expected “within days.”

CFIA reiterated Wednesday it plans to humanely euthanize and dispose of all birds on infected premises.

For animals ordered destroyed, CFIA noted, the agency offers compensation, usually paid out within six to 10 weeks, based on animals’ market value and considering factors such as animals’ genetic backgrounds, ages and production records.

For example, CFIA said Wednesday, normal commercial-grade “eating chickens” are assigned a rate of $20 per bird; breeding chickens, $1,200 per bird; turkeys, $70 per bird; and breeding turkeys, $1,050 per bird.

Other compensation programs may also be available through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and, in some cases, provincial governments, to help cover “business disruption” or other “extraordinary costs incurred due to disease,” CFIA said.

AAFC confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday that several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have halted imports of certain Canadian poultry products and birds due to the H5 findings announced Tuesday. — AGCanada.com Network