The CFIA defines a commercial premises as one that either raises birds under Canada’s supply management system with limits on productions and sales or one operating outside that system but with over 1,000 birds or more than 300 anseriformes for sale or breeding.
Those definitions appear to indicate that this outbreak may be located on a small-scale farm of some kind, though that remains unconfirmed.
It’s unlikely that this detection was in the City of Kamloops or another TNRD member municipality. That’s because the CFIA has listed other cities during past outbreaks, as was the case during a recent outbreak at a commercial poultry operation in Salmon Arm.
CFJC has reached out to the CFIA for clarification and information about the nature of this outbreak.
According to the CFIA, this is one of 16 avian flu outbreaks across British Columbia in the month of November, the vast majority of which have been in commercial poultry operations in the Fraser Valley.
Eleven of the 30 outbreaks since Oct. 14 have been in the City of Chilliwack. Eight others are in Abbotsford, three in Langley Township, two in the District of Summerland, and one each in Salmon Arm, Richmond, Pitt Meadows, the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Cariboo Regional District, and the TNRD.
This surge in avian influenza outbreaks come as the fall migration season for many birds takes flight. B.C. poultry flocks have been hard hit by the virus, with an estimated 8.8 million birds dying or being culled in the province in recent years.
Five other outbreaks in January this year – all in the City of Abbotsford – are no longer considered active.
According to the CFIA, avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu”, is a contagious viral infection that affects several species of food-producing birds, as well as pet birds, wild birds and mammals.
People are asked to report all suspected cases of avian influenza in their flocks to the CFIA. People who come across sick or dead wild birds are asked to call the provincial Wild Bird Reporting Line at 1-866-431-2473 or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.
– With files from The Canadian Press