# 2748
We've known for 2-weeks that the culprit in the Fraser Valley outbreak of avian flu on a turkey farm was an H5 virus, but it wasn't until late yesterday that it was announced that it was the H5N2 virus.
While not unexpected, this comes as a bit of a relief nonetheless. The H5N2 virus is considerably less worrisome than the H5N1 virus that is decimating flocks in Asia, and has infected more than 400 people.
This from the Canadian Press.
H5N2 virus behind avian influenza outbreak at B.C. turkey farm: CFIA
9 hours ago
OTTAWA — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the virus responsible for an outbreak of avian influenza in B.C.'s Fraser Valley is an H5N2 virus.
The agency says testing at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg determined the neuraminidase type or the N in the virus's name.
It has been known for nearly two weeks that the virus was an H5 virus but it took until Tuesday for the agency to announce testing had determined the N type.
The agency says preliminary tests suggest the virus was a low pathogenic type of avian flu.
Approximately 60,000 turkeys on the affected farm were euthanized last week and they are being composted in the barn at temperatures that should ensure any viruses are destroyed.
