Bird flu found at two farms in Canada

Ottawa - Authorities in Canada say they put two poultry farms in British Columbia under quarantine after they tested positive for bird flu.

"Preliminary testing by the province of British Columbia has confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza on two farms in the Fraser Valley" region of the province, said a statement released by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The tests were conducted on Monday at the two infected sites - a turkey farm and a chicken breeding facility, said officials.

They said that within a few days they expect to receive the results of testing "to confirm pathogenicity and to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus."

The testing was undertaken after both farms experienced an unexpectedly high number of sudden bird deaths over the weekend.

Officials said infected poultry would be euthanised and discarded in accordance with international health and safety protocols.