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H5N1 was also found in a poultry farm in North Okanagan and in a backyard herd in Kelowna.
A small flock of poultry in Kutenai tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus. SunMedia
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Avian influenza has been found in a flock of poultry in Kutenais.
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed on Friday that a small flock in a regional area of Central Kuteney has tested positive for H5N1, a highly contagious strain of avian influenza virus.
This is the third confirmed outbreak in the province this month after an initial case at a commercial poultry farm in North Okanagan and a second case at a backyard herd in Kelowna.
The infected premises have been quarantined, the federal agency said. The Ministry of Agriculture of BC has notified other producers within a radius of 12 kilometers of the outbreak.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said migratory birds were responsible for the outbreaks and expected cases to rise as the birds flew north for the summer.
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There are seven wild birds that died between April 20 and 27 that tested positive for the virus. These include: three snow geese and one Canadian goose in the Vanderhoof area and bald eagles from Lac La Hache, Bowen Island and Vancouver.
Earlier this week, two other wild birds were found dead with the virus: a bald eagle in the Delta this month and another eagle in Vancouver in February.
Poultry farmers and small flock owners are urged to take additional precautions to stop the spread of bird flu, including eliminating opportunities for poultry to encounter wild birds; reducing access to the herd; and increased cleaning and disinfection when entering poultry areas.
Previous outbreaks have killed millions of birds, including in 2004, when a severe outbreak in the Fraser Valley of a different strain of bird flu killed 17 million birds.
chchan@postmedia.com
twitter.com/cherylchan
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