The most recent cases for each province came in November 2022
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Two months into 2023 and the prairie provinces have yet to see any new cases of avian flu.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta each had their most recent cases in November 2022.
Saskatchewan’s was in a commercial poultry operation in the RM of Humboldt on Nov. 14. Manitoba’s came on Nov. 17 in a non-commercial, non-poultry location in the RM of Woodlands. And Alberta’s most recent case came on Nov. 22 in a non-commercial poultry location in Mountain View County.
As of Feb. 2, 60 locations in Alberta have been infected with avian flu, impacting more than 1.4 million birds, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. Of those locations, only 14 remain infected.
This doesn’t mean farmers aren’t thinking about avian flu.
“Farmers are concerned. After last year, they really don’t know what to expect this year, but they are very vigilant,” David Hyink, chair of Alberta Chicken Producers, told the Red Deer Advocate. “They’re taking the situation seriously and they are continuing to implement strict bio-security, animal care and food safety measures in their barns.”
In Alberta, the provincial and federal governments are providing support to producers affected by avian flu in 2022.
Poultry producers not currently signed up for AgriStability for the 2022 program year now have until Feb. 28 to enroll.
“Alberta’s producers have faced significant impacts, substantial losses and a great deal of stress during this time, and I hope this change offers additional help to some producers,” said Nate Horner, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation.
Manitoba has had 21 locations affected by avian flu, impacting 287,000 birds. Of those locations, only one remains infected, the CFIA says.
And Saskatchewan has had 32 premises infected with avian flu, impacting almost 500,000 birds. Of those areas, only nine remain infected, the CFIA says.
In total across Canada, avian flu has affected 292 locations, impacting more than 7.1 million birds. Of those locations, only 103 remain infected.
And Prince Edward Island is the only province not to register a case of avian flu on the CFIA’s database.