Avian flu has hit several locations in the eastern Fraser Valley in October, according to the latest from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Three outbreaks were recorded just this week – two in Chilliwack and one in Abbotsford.In total, there are 11 infected premises between the two communities as of Tuesday (Oct. 28). Nearly 11.5 million birds in B.C. are believed to be affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as of Tuesday evening.
The affected areas stretch from Maple Ridge to the east and Laidlaw to the north and west down to the Washington-B.C. boarder in the south.
CFIA said the avian flu is not a food safety concern at this time and there is no evidence to suggest eating cooked poultry or eggs would transmit the virus to humans. Since 2022, CFIA has restricted the import of bird by-products from certain regions with active outbreaks.
Earlier this year, 75 poultry farms across B.C. benefited from a $2.5-million program called Novel Tools and Technologies to upgrade their farms and fight back against the threat of avian flu. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said Fraser Valley producers have been fighting avian flu since the 2004 outbreak.
As of publication, there have been about 200 avian flu outbreaks in the Fraser Valley since 2022. The virus spread through the air, outdoor water sources and other means. Fall is typically the time of year when the risk of avian flu is at its peak.
– With files from Jennifer Feinberg