Industrialization of livestock farming to blame for avian flu outbreak

The appearance of avian flu in the Fraser Valley — the fourth such outbreak in 10 years — is just one symptom of the inexorable rise of factory farming, with its attendant risks to animal welfare, human health and the environment.

Thousands of chickens and turkeys are again wiped out by a virulent disease, and thousands more must be destroyed to prevent its spread. Public health officials again must closely monitor a deadly virus affecting poultry to ensure it doesn’t pose a threat to humans.

Since the massive avian flu outbreak in 2004, during which 17 million birds were culled, various biosecurity measures have been put in place by the poultry industry. Yet, still the virus, in one strain or another, emerges with frightening persistence.