Prince George, B.C. – A primary control zone has been established in order to combat the spread of the avian flu in the Fraser Valley.

Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, chief veterinary officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), says the area has been subdivided into three sub zones: infected, restricted, and security.

He says the zones cover an area beyond the farms currently affected (which borders the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the U.S. border, on the north by Highway 16 and on the east between B.C. and Alberta).

Kochhar says the zone will remain in place until the CFIA “is confident that the outbreak is contained,” noting it has the support of both the provincial government and the poultry industry.

The outbreak has forced the quarantine of five farms and he says “further farms may be identified in the coming days.”

The outbreak has led to the euthanization of over 140,000 turkeys and chickens.

It’s also caused concern internationally as seven countries have placed a ban on BC poultry.