A case of H5N2 avian flu has been confirmed in the Abbotsford area. It was found in a duck that was shot by a hunter earlier this week. Ray Nickel with the BC Poultry Association tells us it’s a low pathogen virus, and because it’s a wild bird, it’s not likely this will lead to an outbreak, but just the same, local farmers will be on alert because it was just a year ago we had a quarantine and a cull …he says there are already safeguards in place.

“One of the reasons for alerting everybody and moving to enhanced security procedures, is that it puts a little bit more of a restriction and onus on the producers to monitor who is coming on and off the farms.  Particularly, making sure that farmers are aware of how they’re going in and out of their barns…making sure they’re wearing proper shoes, change of clothing, those sorts of things.  Just making sure they’re really minimizing the risk.”

He says they know there is always a risk here and producers need to remain vigilant, but there are currently no plans for an “exceptional inspection”.

He says as we get into the holiday season, there’s absolutely NO reason not to keep buying and eating poultry.