The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reported that cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds continue, although it has been more than six months since HPAI has been confirmed in any commercial poultry flocks.
A September 4 report from WOAH revealed recent cases of HPAI in wild birds in three provinces. Those included:
- Saskatchewan: One great horned owl and one Canada goose
- British Columbia: Four dunlin, one cackling goose, one American crow and one merlin
- Ontario: One great horned owl
“Wildlife surveillance as well as the Canadian Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) activities for poultry are ongoing in Canada. According to Article 10.4.1.4. of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Member Country should not impose bans on the international trade of poultry commodities in response to notification of infection with any Influenza A viruses in birds other than poultry,” the WOAH report stated.
Current HPAI situation with Canadian poultry
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tracks cases of HPAI in commercial and backyard poultry, as well as non-commercial domestic birds not classified as poultry.
The most recent of any of those cases was reported on April 10 in a non-commercial flock in Haut-Saint-François Regional County Municipality, Quebec. However, the last time the presence of HPAI was confirmed in a commercial poultry flock was February 19, 2024, with that case occurring in Mountain View County, Alberta.
Only one HPAI primary control zone remains active in Canada. That zone involves a premises in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, where the presence of HPAI was found in a backyard poultry flock on November 15, 2023.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
