Avian influenza has emerged in seven different locations in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley this month, with six new cases appearing since last Thursday. Local farmers are taking extensive measures to safeguard their poultry flocks. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has verified that seven commercial poultry farms in Abbotsford and Chilliwack have been affected by highly pathogenic avian flu.
Mark Siemens, an egg farmer in the Fraser Valley, highlighted the escalating challenge of avian flu for farmers in British Columbia, describing it as an annual struggle to protect their birds. All commercial farms in the province are currently under strict biosecurity protocols, including keeping birds indoors, closing farm gates, disinfecting all incoming vehicles, and requiring workers to change clothes and wear personal protective gear.
Siemens, who dealt with an avian flu outbreak last year, emphasized the emotional toll of such situations, where all exposed birds on a farm must be culled. Shawn Hall, spokesperson for the B.C. Poultry Association, explained that avian influenza is mainly transmitted by migrating waterfowl such as ducks and geese that travel through the region.
Hall mentioned ongoing research projects, including one investigating air filtration in barns, to enhance biosecurity measures. He reassured the public that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk, underscoring the stringent food safety regulations in Canada.
Both Hall and Siemens noted an increase in avian flu risk since 2022. The CFIA reported that 8.8 million birds in British Columbia have either perished or been culled due to the highly pathogenic avian flu subtype, representing more than half of the affected birds in Canada.