The number of poultry farms infected with avian influenza has grown to 31 in Canada's western province of British Columbia, local press reported Tuesday.

According to Canada's Food Inspection Agency, the two additional infected sites were located within a cluster of infected farms in the Fraser Valley region in the province.

A central co-ordination group set up by the federal and provincial governments met Monday in the Fraser Valley. Officials said extra staff ordered last week by the provincial government were moving into place to help with the massive cull of 19 millionbirds.

By Tuesday, up to 150 federal employees and a similar number ofprovincial workers are in place to fight the avian flu outbreak.

Canada's Agriculture Ministry has set May 21 as the date for eliminating the entire Fraser Valley poultry population infected by bird flu.

Source: Xinhua