Health

One more Abbotsford-area Farm Added to Bird Flu Quarantine

by con10t | January 28, 2009 at 06:00 am

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B.C. poulty and bio-security officials report that for the next three weeks extensive testing and containment measures to curb any spread of the avian flu H5N1 virus will be in effect in the Abbotsford area of beautiful British Columbia. Farmers must also help contain the deadly human-transferable virus by being vigilant about closing gates, cleaning truck tires and equipment, and limiting traffic to and from potentially infected areas. The total number of Abbotsford area poultry farms now in quarantine stands at 24. Safe, Safer, Safest is the poultry farm motto of the day.

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — One more Abbotsford-area farm has been placed under quarantine and more could be flagged in the coming days as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to monitor an outbreak of avian flu.

Twenty-three farms were initially under quarantine because they are within a three-kilometre radius of E & H farms, where government officials Saturday confirmed the presence of the virus.

But CFIA disease control specialist Sandra Stephens said an additional property has been added to the list because it's been determined there was "significant contact" between it and the affected property.

"We're still working on tracing movement to and from the infected premises," Stephens said on Tuesday.