Eight Canadian poultry flocks hit by bird flu
New outbreaks confirmed in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba as virus continues to spread.
CANADA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in eight commercial poultry flocks across three provinces.
According to the CFIA, five infected flocks were identified in British Columbia, two in Saskatchewan, and one in Manitoba.
Details on the specific types of poultry or the number of affected birds were not disclosed in the agency’s latest update.
British Columbia reports surge in infections
Three of the new cases in British Columbia occurred in Chilliwack, with two confirmed on October 24 and another on the same day.
Two additional infections were reported in Abbotsford, one verified on October 24 and the other on October 25.
With these new reports, British Columbia has now recorded 12 commercial flock infections linked to HPAI since the beginning of 2025.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba also affected
In Saskatchewan, one outbreak was confirmed in Hoodoo on October 26, while another was reported in Laird on October 23.
The latest infections bring the province’s total losses to four commercial poultry flocks this year.
Meanwhile, Manitoba has recorded a new case in a commercial flock in Hanover, confirmed on October 25.
The previous two outbreaks in the same region were reported on October 21 and October 16, continuing a worrying pattern of infections in the province.
So far in 2025, Manitoba has lost six commercial poultry flocks to the virus.
Broader national impact
The recent detections add to a growing list of confirmed HPAI cases across Canada, with Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta also reporting outbreaks earlier this year.
CFIA continues to monitor the situation closely and implement control measures, including quarantines and movement restrictions, in affected zones.
Although the agency has not yet provided estimates of economic losses, previous HPAI outbreaks have cost the Canadian poultry industry millions of dollars in culling and containment efforts, equivalent to several million US$ in damages.
The recurrence of avian influenza in multiple provinces signals an ongoing challenge for poultry producers as they work to prevent further spread of the disease.
For continued updates, the CFIA advises the public and industry stakeholders to follow its official communications on the evolving bird flu situation in Canada.
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