BC urges you to support poultry farmers, as tenth farm tests positive for avian flu

By

LOWER MAINLAND (NEWS1130) – A tenth farm in the Lower Mainland has tested positive for avian flu.

Federal officials say the virus was confirmed Saturday in a Langley barn housing table-egg layers.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the new outbreak affects 53,000 birds.

The newest case hikes the total poultry to be destroyed up to almost 234,000 since the infection began on December 1.

Meanwhile, BC’s agriculture minister is encouraging you to support Fraser Valley poultry farm.

Norm Letnick says it’s all about perspective; in 2004, about 17 million birds were euthanized during an avian flu outbreak.

But he says the impact to farmers during this outbreak isn’t going unnoticed. “As soon as the outbreak came up, I had good discussions with leaders in the industry. We agreed together that the best thing to do would be to set up a file immediately on the recovery plan so that we can get that moving as fast as we can with federal partners.”

Farmers will be compensated for their euthanized flock.

Eight countries have placed restrictions on BC poultry products.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today