The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has established a primary control zone in the province to help prevent the spread of the avian influenza.

The control zone will cover a huge part of the province as avian influenza is highly contagious between birds and can spread very rapidly. Because southern British Columbia has a high concentration of poultry operations, the primary control zone covers an area beyond the premises that are currently affected.

“The primary control zone is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the United States border, on the north by Highway 16, and on the east by the border between British Columbia and Alberta,” said the CFIA in a release. “The primary control zone is divided into three disease control zones: infected, restricted and security. The three zones represent relative levels of risk and movement restrictions vary accordingly. Most of the restrictions apply to the infected and restricted zones because of the greater potential that the virus can spread.”

B.C.’s Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick issued a statement following the implementation of the control zone.

“Our first priority is to ensure this highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza is contained and eradicated. The primary control zone will help us to achieve that, to allow our producers to resume normal operations just as soon as possible. This is also an important signal to global markets that Canada and British Columbia are taking swift and decisive action to respond to this outbreak.

"From the moment the virus was first detected, our government has worked very co-operatively and constructively with both industry and the CFIA. This effective partnership led to immediate controls being established to prevent the spread of the virus. In my discussions with both industry leaders and the federal Agriculture Minister, it is clear our joint response is helping to get ahead of this very contagious virus.”

All movement of captive birds in and out of, and through this zone is strictly controlled and requires a permit from the CFIA. The movement restrictions also apply to poultry products and by-products and material that has come into contact with captive birds.

Source - http://www.kelownanow.com/