The Province of British Columbia has funded a program that brings together producers and researchers to install and assess new technologies in the fight against Avian Flu. The program aims to determine how effectively these technologies can reduce the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on commercial poultry farms.
Funding is available for commercial producers in the Lower Mainland – where the majority of HPAI cases in BC have occurred – to purchase and install any of the four identified air filtration/ventilation systems.
A literature review of novel tools and technologies was conducted through the Simon Fraser University Knowledge Link. Throughout the Spring and Summer of 2025, a group of experts from the BC poultry industry, government, and researchers met to evaluate the results and plan for the roll-out of the funding program.
As a result, two programming streams were developed: 1) for the most promising technologies for producers to implement right now, and 2) for researchers to do further evaluations on an additional list of tools and technologies.
Tools and technologies currently being implemented and evaluated on select BC farms
- Mechanical air filtration
- Installation of particulate filters, such as HEPA or MERV 16 or higher
- MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) are based on the average filtration efficiency; a higher MERV value means the filter can efficiently remove a greater range of particles at a higher efficiency
- HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters can filter particles even smaller than MERV filters
- Both systems have been adapted to farm environments, though dust accumulation may occur
- A study from France showed HEPA filters reduced transmission of PRRSV in swine to nearly zero, and MERV 14, 15, and 16 have also shown effectiveness against PRRSV virus in US swine
- Ultraviolet (UV) light
- UV light has a shorter wavelength which can penetrate into cells, such as pathogens, and destroy them
- UV systems have been implemented for the treatment of livestock emissions and as a component of air filtration systems to reduce airborne bacteria and dust in pig facilities
- Studies have confirmed that influenza viruses, including H5N1, are susceptible to UV inactivation and should be a scalable solution for HPAI prevention in barns, especially when combined with other air management approaches
- UV systems require constant cleaning to maintain effectiveness, unless combined with other filtration
- Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs)
- A type of electrical filter used in ventilation ducts, ESPs can filter particles by generating an electrostatic field, which charges airborne particles and attracts them to an oppositely charged plate or electrode
- In a farm setting, ESPs were demonstrated to remove 96-99% of influenza A and PRSV particles from the air when placed in the airflow between experimentally infected pigs and non-infected pigs, however the technology has not been tested on poultry farms specifically for removal of HPAI
- Advantages of ESPs include effective filtration for small particle sizes, the ability to add an ESP to an existing system with little disruption, and relatively low cleaning and maintenance requirements compared to other technologies
- Positive pressure ventilation upgrade
- This is an upgrade from sidewall inlets, where fans are used to pull air into the barn, creating positive pressure that then forces air out through any cracks, preventing unfiltered air from entering the barn.
- Incoming fresh air is typically distributed throughout the barn using ducts, attic inlets or circulation fans. The fresh air is forced in with a fan and evenly distributed using large ducting with multiple nozzle holes in it.
- Should be used in combination with one of the other approved technologies, and combined with tunnel venting or ducting to heat and evenly disperse air
- This system can cause some moisture related issues within the barn structure so needs to be managed appropriately
Further details on these four chosen technologies can be found here, and further details on the technologies identified for further research can be found here.
Evaluations are still underway in BC for these technologies recently implemented on some farms and the BC industry is looking forward to sharing results from this pilot program.
The Novel Tools and Technology for HPAI Prevention Pilot Program (NTT) is part of the Food Security Initiative and is funded by the Province of British Columbia. The pilot program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).
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