A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in Quebec on June 28, making it the first HPAI case in a commercial poultry flock in Canada in nearly three weeks.
According to information on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website, the presence of the virus was confirmed in a commercial flock in La Jacques-Cartier, but the agency did not specify the type of flock or how many birds were involved.
This marks the first case of HPAI in Quebec since May 4, and the first case in a commercial flock in the province since April 21. It also marks the first case in commercial poultry in Canada since June 8, when the virus was found in a commercial flock in Langley Township, British Columbia.
Earlier in the week, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) updated its report on the HPAI situation in Canada. The most recent figures put the total number of commercial poultry in Canada to be affected by the HPAI outbreak at more than 2 million, with the size of one flock yet to be reported.
Every province has had at least one confirmed HPAI case, whether it has been in a commercial flock, backyard flock, wild birds or a combination of two or more of these. However, the only provinces to have positive HPAI detections in commercial poultry are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
The current outbreak of HPAI in North America began when the virus was confirmed at an exhibition farm in Newfoundland and Labrador on December 21, 2021. However, the CFIA has not confirmed any new cases in that province since January 9.
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.
