British Columbia to Cull up to 60,000 Birds

VANCOUVER — Euthanization of as many as 60,000 turkeys will likely begin today at a farm in British Columbia's Fraser Valley after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of the H5 avian flu virus.

Further tests are under way to determine the pathogenic level of the virus discovered last week on a commercial turkey farm near Abbotsford, but the agency said that initial tests indicate that the strain involved in this case is "low pathogenic." Pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness caused in birds.

"Today [yesterday] they are looking at the preparation for sealing the barns for destroying the birds by C02 (carbon dioxide) flooding," said Sandra Stephens, veterinary program specialist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The presence of H5 virus does not mean there is an outbreak of the H5N1 virus that has killed nearly 250 people in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.

There are multiple subtypes of H5 avian flu.

In fact, the Fraser Valley experienced an H5N2 outbreak in November 2005.

Even within H5N1 viruses, there are different lineages or families of viruses. The one which has wreaked such havoc in Asia and parts of Africa has so far not been found in North America.

Ms. Stephens said workers would organize the composting of the turkeys' carcasses after they are gassed.

Source: The Canadian Press