Quebec has had its second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry in less than one week.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that the presence of HPAI was confirmed in a commercial flock in La Jacques-Cartier on July 3. Another case in La Jacques-Cartier was earlier confirmed on June 28.
CFIA did not disclose further information concerning the size of the flock or the types of birds involved in either case.
Prior to these two cases, the last incidence of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock in Quebec was confirmed on April 21, although the virus had been found in a backyard flock in the province on May 4.
Outside of Quebec, the last case of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock in Canada was confirmed on June 28, with that case being found in Langley Township, British Columbia.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) last week 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.
