Seven poultry farms in southwestern Ontario are currently under quarantine due to an avian flu outbreak, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported. The affected farms are located near Ingersoll (four farms), Strathroy (two), and North Middlesex (one). The first cases of avian flu were detected on December 14, 2024.
The flu was likely brought to the area by migratory birds, which can spread the virus through direct contact or indirectly through fecal matter, contaminated water, soil, or feed. A 10-kilometre control zone has been set up around the quarantined farms to regularly test poultry and byproducts for exposure.
Farmers are required to report any unusual deaths or abnormalities in their flocks, which triggers the quarantine process. To lift the quarantine, farms must euthanize infected birds, disinfect their premises, and wait 21 days without new infections.
Since December 27, 2024, more than one million birds in Ontario have been affected by the flu. Canada has faced an ongoing avian influenza outbreak since December 2021, with nearly 11 million domestic birds infected. CFIA provides a mapping tool to help locate primary control zones.
Written by: C. Soares