Niko
Editor, Senior Moderator
Food agency's avian influenza drill frightens Manitoba residents for real
Canadian Press
Friday, November 03, 2006
WINNIPEG (CP) - There are no chickens and the sky isn't falling.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Friday its officials have been engaged in a mock avian influenza outbreak that has frightened hundreds of residents in southern Manitoba.
People living near Steinbach have seen workers in white bio-hazard suits near the community, prompting at least 100 phone calls and e-mails to radio stations as far away as Winnipeg with questions as to what is going on.
An official with the food agency in Calgary, who didn't want to be publicly identified, said there is no actual outbreak.
But she confirmed the agency is testing both the equipment and procedures that would be needed if avian flu hit.
? The Canadian Press 2006
Copyright ? 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/a...=23d601bb-60e8-443d-ae6e-14d43c9901c8&k=11679
Canadian Press
Friday, November 03, 2006
WINNIPEG (CP) - There are no chickens and the sky isn't falling.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Friday its officials have been engaged in a mock avian influenza outbreak that has frightened hundreds of residents in southern Manitoba.
People living near Steinbach have seen workers in white bio-hazard suits near the community, prompting at least 100 phone calls and e-mails to radio stations as far away as Winnipeg with questions as to what is going on.
An official with the food agency in Calgary, who didn't want to be publicly identified, said there is no actual outbreak.
But she confirmed the agency is testing both the equipment and procedures that would be needed if avian flu hit.
? The Canadian Press 2006
Copyright ? 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/a...=23d601bb-60e8-443d-ae6e-14d43c9901c8&k=11679