Final 2022 tally: Avian flu cases by Canadian province

At the conclusion of 2022, Canada had reported 122 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry flocks.

These cases have appeared in seven of the country’s provinces. While the virus appeared in all of Canada’s provinces and the Canadian territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. However, no commercial flocks were affected by HPAI in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, or in any of the territories.

Utilizing information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) this article offers a look at where the provinces rank when it comes to the number of commercial flocks affected by the virus.

1. British Columbia

With a surge of cases confirmed in the second half of November and the entire month of December, British Columbia had by far the most cases of HPAI when compared to other provinces. The year-end tally was 72 cases in commercial flocks in 2022, with broilers, laying hens and turkeys affected. The province’s first case was confirmed on  April 13. As of November 15, British Columbia had only had nine cases, but 63 more cases followed, with the bulk of those being in the municipalities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack. With 43 cases, Abbotsford alone had more HPAI cases in 2022 than any other single province.

2. Alberta

Alberta was the province with the second most confirmed cases of HPAI in commercial poultry flocks at 38. The province’s first case was confirmed on April 6, while the most recent case was confirmed on November 15 in Forty Mile County. The total number of birds lost to HPAI in Alberta has been estimated at 1.3 million. However, that number does not include the number of birds in the province's most recent case. The affected flocks included turkeys, broilers, laying hens, upland gamebirds and chicken breeders. There were also some flocks that were only identified as “poultry,” with each affected province but Nova Scotia having at least one infected flock identified in such a way.

3. Ontario

With 30 confirmed cases Ontario ranked third in terms of flocks lost in Canada. The first case was confirmed on March 27, while the most recent case was confirmed on December 21 in Lambdon Shores. The province’s bird losses include turkeys, ducks and laying hen breeders. One of those cases was confirmed at a Sofina Foods poultry plant.

4. Manitoba

Manitoba comes in fourth with 17 flocks infected. Those flocks included broilers, turkeys and turkey breeders. All of those cases were confirmed between April 23 and October 26.

5. Quebec and Saskatchewan

The most recent HPAI case in Saskatchewan was confirmed on November 14 in Humboldt, bringing the province’s total case count to 16 – the same number of flocks that have been lost in Quebec. Affected flocks have involved turkeys, layers, layer breeders and broiler breeders. The virus first appeared in Saskatchewan poultry on April 15.

Also with 16 flocks affected, Quebec has lost turkeys, turkey breeders, ducks and layers. The province’s first case was confirmed on April 12, while the most recent was confirmed on November 5. When comparing bird losses among the two provinces with 16 affected flocks, those numbers are inconclusive because information concerning one flock for each in each of those provinces have not been disclosed.

7. Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia was the first province to have had an HPAI infection in a commercial flock, with that case being confirmed on February 3. However, the province’s second and only other case was confirmed on February 11. Both of those cases involved turkeys.

To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com. 

Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.