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Avian Flu Hits B.C. Poultry Again
7 Nov
Summary
- BC experiences first commercial poultry avian flu detection this season.
- Chilliwack farm confirmed infected with H5 avian flu on Friday.
- British Columbia has culled over 10 million birds since late 2021.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed the first detection of avian flu in a commercial poultry flock in British Columbia this season. The infection was identified on Friday in Chilliwack.
This is the initial announcement of a domestic bird case in B.C. since February. However, the agency notes that infections have been progressively spreading across the Prairies since mid-September. Ontario reported its season's first case last week, and Quebec announced its first case on Thursday.
British Columbia has borne the brunt of avian influenza outbreaks since late 2021. The province accounts for over 10 million birds culled out of a nationwide total of 18 million.
The H5 avian flu strain is not considered a food safety risk. However, its rapid transmission typically leads to farm quarantines and flock culling. Human infections are rare, though a teenage girl in B.C. experienced a serious illness from the virus in 2024 before recovering.
