Avian flu continues its spread in B.C.

Jun 08, 2022

The avian flu is spreading in British Columbia, with fresh outbreaks reported in Peace River, Sechelt and Summerland on Tuesday.

The avian flu (H5N1) is a federally regulated disease that is spreading worldwide and was first reported in B.C. in the Regional District of North Okanagan on April 13.

The disease has been found in Abbotsford, Kelowna, Richmond, 100-Mile House, Bowen Island, Metro Vancouver, Williams Lake and the Comox Valley.

An outbreak in 2004 in the Fraser Valley led to a cull of 17 million birds.

The latest strain of H5N1 is highly contagious say experts and is spreading across North America, likely by migrating wild birds.

All commercial poultry operators in B.C. are under order to keep their birds indoors.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 1.7 million birds have died from the virus or been put down in Canada so far.

No infections have been found in humans.

In a statement, the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food said that all infected premises are quarantined and other operators located within 10 kilometres are notified.

Multiple wild birds have also tested positive in B.C. for the flu.

Latest data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency states there are 12 infected locations in B.C. (not including the recent outbreaks) impacting 100,000 birds (meaning they have been put down.)

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.