Canadian officials reported the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock since May 20.
According to information on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website, the virus was confirmed in a commercial flock in Langley Township, British Columbia on June 8. CFIA has not released information concerning the flock size or the type of poultry involved in this case.
The last case of HPAI in commercial poultry in Canada was also confirmed in British Columbia, with this flock being located in the city of Abbotsford. To date, four commercial flocks have been confirmed in British Columbia this year.
While the Langley Township case is the only case of HPAI to appear in commercial poultry in Canada in June, there have been multiple confirmed cases in backyard flocks in both British Columbia and Alberta. On June 4, new cases were reported in backyard poultry in Sechelt and Summerland, British Columbia. On June 2, new cases were reported in Wainwright and Clear Hills County, Alberta.
According to standards set forth by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), cases of HPAI in backyard flocks should not affect global poultry trade.
HPAI was first confirmed in Canada in December 2021, when the virus was found at an exhibition farm in the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that time, the virus has reached every Canadian province. However, the only provinces where HPAI has appeared in commercial poultry are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan have been affected by avian influenza. However, when wild birds and backyard flocks are included, every province has had at least one case of HPAI.
To learn more about HPAI cases in North American commercial poultry flocks, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
