– Canada expanded its quarantine of poultry farms in westernmost British Columbia province Thursday after learning that an outbreak of avian influenza has spread.

Both farms are close to one of the original two that were first to be quarantined on December 2 after they tested positive for bird flu, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement.

In total, eight properties have so far been impacted, and a ninth is being monitored for the H5N2 virus.

Several countries, including the United States, temporarily suspended imports of Canadian poultry and eggs after the finds.

Testing was undertaken after the original two farms experienced an unexpectedly high number of sudden bird deaths in one weekend.

Chickens and turkeys have been euthanized on four of the affected farms. The rest will be depopulated in the coming days, officials said.