Avian influenza spreads across Canadian farms with 96 sites reported

Avian Flu (H5N1) is spreading across Canada, with the highest concentration of outbreaks reported on prairie farms, both Chicken and Turkey, and showing no signs of slowing down with over 3 million birds inflected. 

Last week, US new sources reported over 47 million birds were culled or died from the infection which will no doubt have a massive impact on chicken and turkey in grocery store shelves not to mention contributing to already inflationary prices  ahead of the  approaching holiday season. 

 

Meanwhile in Canada, the virus, while spreading quickly, is largely concentrated to prairie provinces yet will have no less of an impact on import bans, effecting trading stock, and contributing to inflation. 

“The impacts (of H5N1) are no less felt by a poultry industry hoping for a banner year following weather and Covid pandemic hardship the last few years” 

The CFIA maintains the outbreak does not constitute a food safety concern. But the impacts are no less felt by a poultry industry hoping for a banner year following weather and Covid pandemic hardship the last few years. 

 

As of this week, CFIA has reported its latest provincial numbers. 

 

Alberta has 28 infected sites with an estimated 1.3 million impacted birds. British Columbia with 14 sites and 230,000 birds. Manitoba claims 17 infection sites for 289,000 birds as does Saskatchewan with 14 sites and 265,000 birds. Ontario tallies 13 sites and 623,000 birds. New Brunswick has one site and under a hundred birds while Quebec has 8 sites and 300,000 birds, leaving Newfoundland and Nova Scotia with zero sites and just over 12,000 birds. PEI and the territories to date report no infections. 

 

Health Canada has not reported any human infections from the virus. But one in the US and one in the UK has been reported. 

 

For more information on H5N1 and reported infections visit www.inspection.canada.ca