The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reported that additional cases of avian influenza have been discovered in the Strathroy, Ontario region, bringing the total number of outbreaks confirmed in the past fortnight to four. The most recent case was detected on Friday when highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was verified at a commercial poultry farm in the area, as stated on the CFIA’s website. The exact number of birds affected by this recent outbreak is currently unknown.
This development follows an outbreak declared on Wednesday, which impacted at least 15,469 turkeys, according to a statement from the CFIA. The agency did not disclose the name or precise location of the affected farm in that incident but noted it was approximately five kilometers away from the two farms affected in outbreaks last week and earlier this week. The combined impact of the earlier outbreaks on roughly 32,000 and 15,600 turkeys, respectively, along with the most recent outbreak, brings the total number of affected birds to at least 63,069.
The CFIA announced that all affected birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in compliance with provincial regulations, emphasizing that no single source has been identified. These four outbreaks represent Ontario’s only active avian influenza cases.
To prevent further spread, the CFIA has established two primary control zones, PCZ-302 and PCZ-308, covering a significant portion of Strathroy-Caradoc and parts of adjacent areas. Movement of birds, products, and by-products within or through these zones requires a permit. Once the disease is deemed eradicated from the area, the PCZ may be lifted.
According to Maggy Watson-Sparks, the general manager of the Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC), which coordinates the Ontario poultry industry’s response to disease risks, HPAI poses a flock health concern rather than a food safety issue. The FBCC is collaborating closely with the CFIA and provincial boards to safeguard bird health.
Various factors, such as the migration of wild birds, contribute to the presence of avian flu, with risks heightened during migratory seasons. The predominant strain, H5N1, is highly contagious and can rapidly spread among domestic bird flocks, noted Beth MacDougall-Shackleton, a Western University biology professor specializing in disease ecology. Strict biosecurity measures are essential to prevent infection, including changes in protective gear to minimize the risk of contamination from wild birds.
While H5N1 can rarely infect humans, the CFIA highlighted that transmission typically occurs through close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments. Although human-to-human transmission has not been observed, the risk underscores the importance of curbing the spread between wild and domestic birds.
In Strathroy-Caradoc, which hosts major poultry processing firms such as Burnbrae Farms and Cuddy Farms, efforts are underway to prevent the spread of avian flu. Burnbrae Farms confirmed that none of the farms supplying eggs to their grading station in Strathroy were affected by avian influenza. The municipality takes the situation seriously, according to Sue Hudson, Burnbrae’s senior director of digital marketing and communications.
The London area has experienced previous avian influenza outbreaks, and a total of 615 outbreaks have been recorded across Canada since early 2022, impacting approximately 16.6 million birds.