Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in four more commercial poultry flocks in North America – two of which are in the United States and the other two in Canada.
Avian flu hits 2 South Dakota flocks
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that HPAI was confirmed in two South Dakota commercial meat turkey flocks on December 17.
Most recently affected were 48,700 turkeys in Bon Homme County and 76,600 turkeys in Charles Mix County.
With these new flock infections, South Dakota has had 18 commercial flocks affected by HPAI to date in 2024.
Avian flu returns to Ontario
Ontario has had its first case of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock since January.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the presence of the virus was confirmed in a flock in Strathroy on December 12.
Prior to this, the last time HPAI was confirmed in a commercial poultry flock in the province was January 30 – the only other instance of HPAI in Ontario so far in 2024. That flock was in Amherstburg and involved 49,013 turkeys.
CFIA has not yet released information concerning the number of birds in the Strathroy flock, or what type of poultry was involved.
Outbreak continues in British Columbia
CFIA also stated that another commercial poultry flock in Chilliwack, British Columbia, was the confirmed site of HPAI on December 17. Further information concerning that flock was not available.
With this latest incidence of HPAI, the number of commercial flocks affected by the virus in 2024 in British Columbia has risen to 51, and the number of HPAI-positive commercial flocks in Chilliwack now stands at 18.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
