- VANCOUVER -- B.C. Agriculture
Minister John van Dongen says the avian flu in the Fraser Valley is still
out of control after new figures show 29 poultry farms are now infected
with the virus.
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- The spread continues in spite of bio-security measures.
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- Van Dongen says mobile kilns are still the preferred
way to dispose of the bird carcasses. But he says incineration and landfills
are also part of the province's containment plan.
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- The province has ordered the killing of 19 million birds.
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- Anyone going near a farm has to wear protective clothing
and health officials are urging people wash vehicle tires and wipe their
feet constantly on special anti-flu mats.
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- But in spite of those measures, van Dongen says the virus
lives on.
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- "The problem is not under control and the biggest
difficulty we have is moving dead birds. And if we don't get co-operation
and assistance to move these dead birds, and deal with them, then the problem
will continue to get worse," he said.
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- The B.C. government has invoked an emergency order to
have the birds disposed of in landfills outside the control zone.
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- The move has angered the community of Cache Creek. Protesters,
worried about the spread of the virus, continue to block the road leading
into their waste facility.
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- No infected poultry has been sent to them yet. But the
minister says it must remain an option because of the large number of dead
birds.
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- Van Dongen will meet with the mayors of communities affected
by the order on Friday. He says they all must do their part to stamp out
the spread of avian flu.
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- Copyright © CBC 2004 http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/15/canada/bcavian040415
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