19.11.2005

A strain of H5 avian influenza has been found in a duck on a commercial farm in British Columbia's Fraser Valley.
B.C. government officials said Friday there is no risk to human health, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quarantined the farm under strict protocols developed after an outbreak of avian influenza in the area in 2004.
At this point, health officials say they are not sure which strain of the H5 avian avian influenza was found in the duck.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is visiting farms in a five km radius around the infected premises near Abbotsford to test birds and is warning bird owners to practice strict biosecurity.
An outbreak of avian influenza in 2004 was of H7N3, a highly pathogenic strain.
Three weeks ago, the B.C. government announced it had discovered H5 avian influenza in wild birds in surveillance in Merritt that was conducted in August.
Tests have determined about 174 ducks were positive for the H5 virus from more than 700 samples that were taken from young ducks.