OTTAWA - Avian influenza has been detected at a second farm in southwestern Ontario, prompting food safety officials to place it in quarantine.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says preliminary testing has confirmed the presence of avian flu at the chicken farm in Oxford County. Further testing is underway to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus.
The agency says initial tests for the disease were conducted on Friday after the chicken farm experienced sudden deaths of birds over several days. All birds on the infected premises will be humanely destroyed and disposed of and buildings on the farm will then be cleaned and disinfected.
Last weekend a bird flu quarantine zone near Woodstock was expanded to include 29 farms following the discovery of avian flu at a turkey farm. The virus detected on the farm has been found to be nearly identical to the strain that triggered avian influenza outbreaks in British Columbia and nine U-S states since late last year. (CKOT)
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