ABBOTSFORD, B.C. -- Nearly 60,000 turkeys from a B.C. farm will be killed as early as Monday after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a positive test result for avian flu on the weekend.

A spokesman for the federal agency said agricultural experts were spending Sunday preparing for the cull which would likely take place Monday or Tuesday.

"Today we're prepping, sealing up barns for the gas that sort of thing," said Mark Clarke, adding that gas was the method that would be used to kill the turkeys.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said all birds on the infected premises will be humanely euthanized and disposed of, in accordance with provincial environmental regulations and internationally accepted disease-control guidelines.

Clarke said it will another five days before further testing to confirm pathogenicity and precise subtype and virus strain will be completed.

The agency confirmed the presence of H5 avian flu virus on Saturday after initial tests showed the turkeys from E&H Farms, in Abbotsford, B.C., were infected.

Abbotsford is about 70 kilometres southeast of Vancouver, near the U.S. border.

"Once all birds have been removed, the CFIA will oversee the cleaning and disinfection of the barns, vehicles, equipment and tools to eliminate any infectious material that may remain," the CFIA said in a news release.

The CFIA confirmed the presence of AI strain, which is low-pathogenic. The term pathogenicity refers to the severity of the illness.

Twenty-two farms within a three-kilometre radius of E&H Farms have been under quarantine since Wednesday night.

Food safety is not at risk due to avian influenza viruses, as long as poultry products are properly handled and cooked thoroughly.

Avian flu rarely affects humans - unless the person has had close contact with infected birds.

"In order to limit any potential virus spread, the CFIA is applying restrictions on the movement of poultry and poultry products within three kilometres of the infected premises," said the news release.

"The CFIA is relying on all backyard poultry owners to monitor their flocks and immediately report sick or dead birds. Poultry owners are urged to take an active role in protecting their flocks by employing strict biosecurity measures on their property."

Any recent movement of birds, bird products and equipment involving the infected property will be probed by the CFIA, which is also conducting a thorough epidemiological investigation of the farm.

The tests were ordered after a farm worker noticed some of the turkeys were having respiratory problems. A Ministry of Agriculture spokeswoman said the farm has been diligent about biosecurity.

Initial tests done in Abbotsford showed the H5 strain of the virus, which can become highly pathogenic. A related virus - H5N1- has killed about 250 people.

In 2004, 17 million birds from the Fraser Valley were slaughtered - the largest animal cull in Canadian history. The virus was never detected in humans.

Farmers have been working to improve biosecurity and communication since the 2004 outbreak.

With files from Vancouver Province