Four turkey and chicken farms in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver, British Columbia, are under quarantine for avian influenza, says the Toronto Globe and Mail. Thousands of birds have died on the first two farms where bird flu was detected. “Officials are also waiting for test results to determine the specific N-subtype of the virus involved. Of particular concern is whether the virus is the dangerous H5N1 strain or H5N8, which is currently affecting farms in the Netherlands,” said the Globe and Mail. The southern edge of the Fraser Valley is a short distance from Canada’s border with Washington state.
South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan imposed trade restrictions of varying scope on poultry and poultry products from British Columbia or for all of Canada because of the outbreak, said Reuters.