Avian flu has been detected at a commercial poultry farm in the southwestern municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc, impacting about 32,000 birds.
On Nov. 16, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) implemented a primary control zone in the area around the farm.
Within the restricted zones, permits are required for the movement of birds, their products and byproducts in an effort to control the virus.
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Avian flu was also detected at a Wellington County farm in October. That outbreak is still active.
In 2025, eight investigations or orders associated with avian flu have been reported in Ontario.
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Ontario has two ongoing outbreaks: one in Wellington County and another in Strathroy-Caradoc.
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Since 2021, the CFIA has been responding to avian flu detections and millions of birds have either died due to the virus or been culled.
"Anyone with birds must practice good biosecurity habits to protect poultry and prevent disease," the CFIA warns.
The most common avian influenza virus in domestic birds has been highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1.
"Avian influenza is not a food safety concern," the CFIA underscores. "There is no evidence that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit the virus to humans."
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Despite ongoing avian flu outbreaks on commercial poultry farms in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada says most Canadians don't have a reason to be worried.
"The risk of avian influenza infection to most people in Canada remains low," the agency writes.
Although rare, H5N1 can infect humans. Transmission generally occurs when people, usually farm workers or those attending live animal markets, are in contact with infected birds or are in contaminated spaces.
Last November, Canada saw it's first human case of avian influenza in a B.C. teenager.
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Since 1997, over 900 human cases of A(H5N1) have been reported globally, with most cases observed in Africa and Asia.
"Because some people can have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, it's hard to know exactly how many people have been infected," PHAC says. "These cases often go undetected and aren't reported."
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