OTTAWA, ONTARIO — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently confirmed six new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in flocks in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

The agency said that on Sept. 16 an Alberta commercial flock in the Municipal District of Wainwright confirmed the virus. On the next day, HPAI-infected birds were found in Warner County, and on Sept. 18 a commercial flock in Smoke Lake County also tested positive for the virus. 

In Manitoba on Sept. 16, HPAI was confirmed in a commercial flock in Rural Municipality of Cartier. Then on Sept. 19, CFIA reported another new flock with HPAI at the Rural Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton. 

Ontario saw its first positive commercial case since May on Sept. 17, when the virus was confirmed in the Zorra Township. 

Each outbreak was confirmed on the CFIA’s website, but CFIA did not disclose information concerning the size of these flocks or what type of commercial operations they were.

In 2022, confirmed HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks have also been discovered in Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. 

The United States has shown a recent uptick in HPAI cases with Minnesota, Ohio, California and Utah being the latest states affected.