The outbreak of turkey rhinotracheitis continues be problematic in Canada, with four commercial turkey flocks and one backyard chicken flock being most recently affected.
The presence of turkey rhinotracheitis, which the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) also refers to as avian metapneumovirus, was first confirmed in Canada on May 7, 2024, and since that time, has affected birds in 39 flocks of turkeys and chickens.
WOAH reported that one bird tested positive in each of the five affected flocks.
Three most recently affected turkey flocks are in Ontario, with one case each in the following counties: Oxford, Waterloo and Bruce. The other turkey flock affected is in Stuartburn, Manitoba.
WOAH did not report any deaths among these birds.
To date, Ontario and Manitoba are the only provinces to have confirmed cases of turkey rhinotracheitis. Canada is also the only country reported by WOAH to be dealing with the disease.
Avian influenza in Canada
While turkey rhinotracheitis/avian metapneumovirus cases continue to be a problem in Canada, the situation concerning highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada is easing.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the presence of the virus has not been confirmed since April 10, when a non-commercial flock in Haut-Saint-Francois Regional County, Quebec, was affected. The country has not had a case in commercial poultry, however, since February 19, when a commercial poultry flock in Mountain View County, Alberta, was affected.
Information on the CFIA website reveals that only two premises still have active primary control zones. One is the Mountain View County farm, while the other was the site of a non-commercial poultry flock in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, where the presence of the virus was confirmed on November 15, 2023.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
