An outbreak of avian flu has been detected in seven locations in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia this month, with six cases identified since Thursday. Local farmers are taking extensive measures to safeguard their flocks against the highly pathogenic avian influenza confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on seven commercial poultry farms in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

Mark Siemens, an egg farmer in the Fraser Valley, expressed the escalating challenge posed by avian flu in the region, describing it as a recurring battle for farmers to protect their birds’ well-being. Biosecurity protocols have been implemented on all commercial farms in the province, including confinement of birds in barns, closed farm gates, mandatory disinfection of incoming vehicles, and the use of personal protective gear by all workers.

Siemens, who faced an avian flu outbreak last year, shared the emotional toll of such incidents, noting that culling all exposed birds on a farm is a traumatic experience for farmers who dedicate their lives to caring for their chickens. Shawn Hall, the spokesperson for the B.C. Poultry Association, highlighted the role of migrating waterfowl, particularly ducks, geese, and swans, in spreading avian influenza and emphasized ongoing research efforts to minimize the risk to farms.

Hall mentioned a study on air filtration in barns as part of the comprehensive measures being taken to address avian flu outbreaks. He reassured consumers that avian flu does not pose a food safety risk, emphasizing that poultry products in stores adhere to stringent food safety regulations in Canada. The CFIA reported a significant impact of the avian flu outbreak, estimating that 8.8 million birds in B.C. have died or been culled due to the highly pathogenic subtype, representing over half of the affected birds in Canada. Both Hall and Siemens noted an increased risk of avian flu since 2022.