A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has been found in Kelowna.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in a small flock of poultry in the backyard of Kelowna on Monday.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food said it was working closely with the CFIA and poultry owners to protect the province’s herds.
The property in Kelowna has been quarantined by the CFIA.
Separately, the British Columbia government has notified poultry owners within a 12-kilometer radius.
In the Delta, meanwhile, a bald eagle sample also tested positive for the virus.
This is the second bald eagle sample with a positive sample, the first being from Vancouver in February.
Tens of millions of birds have been affected by the H5N1 outbreak in the United States, while in Canada hundreds of thousands of poultry have been euthanized or killed by the virus.
The only other case identified in British Columbia so far – announced on April 13 – was discovered in Northern Okanagan.
The ministry explained last night: “Owners of small herds or backyard herds are urged to remain vigilant and take appropriate preventive measures.
“Measures include eliminating or reducing the ability of poultry to encounter wild birds, reducing human access to the flock and intensifying cleaning, disinfection and disinfection of all items (including clothing and footwear) when entering areas where flocks are housed.
The CFIA said the virus could rarely spread to humans, but Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Pofam said earlier this month that the risk to the public was “extremely low”.
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