The Canadian poultry industry has seen a decline in reported cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in recent months. The most recent case was confirmed a month ago, marking a positive trend in containment efforts.
Since the outbreak’s onset in December 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has diligently updated its website with new avian influenza cases. The latest reported case occurred on February 19, affecting a commercial flock in Mountain View County, Alberta, comprising pheasants, partridges, and layer chickens, totaling 3,862 birds.
Prior to this, HPAI was last confirmed on February 9, affecting a commercial duck flock in Drummond County, Quebec, and a backyard poultry flock in Vermillion River County, Alberta.
In 2024, Canada has recorded only four confirmed cases of HPAI in commercial operations, with Quebec reporting two cases, and Alberta and Ontario each reporting one. Additionally, non-commercial flocks in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan have also been affected this year.
Comparatively, in 2023, Canada reported 103 cases of HPAI in commercial poultry operations, while 2022 saw 122 confirmed cases. The recent decline in reported cases reflects ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect the Canadian poultry industry.
