# 2693
As of this posting, the strain of suspected bird flu hasn't been determined, although H5 has been publicly mentioned in the press.
Assuming this is avian flu, we also don't know if this is a HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) or LPAI (Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza).
Test results are expected either later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, restrictions are in place to prevent the movement of poultry from the affected area.
This is an evolving news story. Crof over at Crofsblog has been on top of this story since it broke a couple of hours ago. Crof's site will no doubt be the best place to keep up with this story.
Two recent dispatches.
Early testing suggests possible H5 avian influenza outbreak on B.C. farm: CFIA
Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jan. 23, 2009
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it is investigating the possibility of an H5 avian influenza outbreak on a turkey farm in B.C.'s Fraser Valley.
Agency spokesperson Monika Mazur says testing done at the B.C. provincial laboratory suggests the presence of an H5 virus but more tests are being done for confirmation at CFIA's national laboratory in Winnipeg.
Mazur says it's not yet known if the virus is of a high or low pathogenic strain and further testing must be done to determine what the virus's N or neuraminidase type is.
23 B.C. farms quarantined
Officials testing for Avian influenza
Becky Rynor, Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, January 23, 2009Approximately 23 farms in the Abbotsford area have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing testing after a possible case of Avian influenza may have been detected, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday.
"We are investigating the possibility that an H5 Avian influenza strain is present at a commercial poultry operation in the Fraser Valley," said a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Monika Mazur said samples were submitted to a provincial lab "after some respiratory problems were observed in the flock" of one farm in the Abbotsford area.
She said those samples are now with a CFIA-accredited lab in Winnipeg for additional testing and confirmation.
"Depending on the sample quality, the initial results regarding the confirmation of the H5 could be expected as early as (Friday,)" she said.
