Avian flu confirmed at 2nd B.C. farm as industry tries to tackle misconceptions

A chicken in a hen house. (Lasia Kretzel/CityNews)

Posted April 26, 2022 1:30 pm.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed a second avian flu outbreak in B.C., this time within a small backyard flock in Kelowna.

It follows a similar outbreak declared at a poultry farm in the North Okanagan Regional District on April 13.

Two other farms, including one on Vancouver Island, were identified as farms of concern, but the Ministry of Agriculture says test results were negative.

The viral infection is also known as bird flu and is typically lethal. The last significant outbreak was in 2014 and spread to 12 farms, saw hundreds of thousands of birds die, and financially hurt farmers primarily in the Fraser Valley region.

Amanda Brittain with the BC Egg Marketing Board says farms all over the province are taking the necessary biosecurity measures to prevent further spread. Those measures include, as of April 15, all chicken, turkey, duck, and geese producers with 100 or more birds must maintain indoor operations only.

She says it’s important to note that at the moment, the cases are not connected to the Lower Mainland at all, and it’s not likely they will spread from those farms to areas in B.C.’s South Coast which have a high density of poultry and egg commercial farms.

“The Okanagan is on the central flyway whereas the Lower Mainland is on the Pacific Flyway – so it is two different groups of migratory birds. It can also spread, which is why we have a biosecurity program, by people so if you walk through wild bird poop that is infected and you can walk that straight into your barn,” Brittain explained.

“That’s why we often need to shoe changes before we get into where the birds actually live. That is far less likely to happen than the wild bird spreading it and it’s usually spread through fecal matter and nasal secretions. So that’s why we are keeping our birds inside right now to mitigate that risk.”

Brittain adds while there is no chance for humans to catch avian flu from food, if an outbreak is detected at a farm, none of its products will go to market.

“There is no way of catching it from food. That being said if a farm does have avian influenza, the products from that farm whether it’s chicken meat, turkey, meat or eggs do not go to market,” she said, adding “the best way to support farms is to buy local so make sure you’re asking for local products in your grocery stores.”

She says this comes as many farms are getting back up and running following the devastating November floods, which saw tragic numbers of deaths in poultry barns in Abbotsford.

“Our main goal is to not let that happen is to keep aiming for an avian influenza out of the farms. But it would have an impact financially and mentally on farmers who were also impacted by the floods.”

The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food has also confirmed that two bald eagles have died as a result of contracting avian flu. The most recent was found in Delta, while another positive case was found in Vancouver earlier this year. A surveillance program is ongoing to continue to examine wild birds for the disease, as well as take samples from the wetlands that birds gather on.

The disease can also spread to pet birds, however, there are no reports of cases at the moment.

While those who have backyard flocks are urged to also take preventative measures, including reducing human and wild bird access to the flock, those who have birds should also monitor for signs of the illness, and to notify CFIA if they notice anything concerning.