Avian Flu Detected in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta Following Poultry Expo Outbreak

Poultry flocks face destruction following a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak originating from a national exhibition in Moose Jaw on November 7.

Three cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza have been detected so far across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Additional infections may emerge as the investigation continues.

The outbreak began at the Canadian Poultry Exhibition, forcing breeders to eliminate hundreds of birds. Rob McCulloch, one of the event’s organizers, said that some breeders had to destroy between 400 and 700 birds.

“It’s really the opposite of what we feel after winning the lottery. You never expect it, but it can come from anywhere,” McCulloch told ici.radio-canada.ca, adding that he had to cull 40 of his own birds raised over a decade.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is asking anyone who brought birds to the Moose Jaw exhibition, or transported them back home, to contact authorities immediately. The agency advises all bird owners to monitor their flocks for symptoms such as a lack of energy, reduced activity, or loss of appetite, and to report any suspected cases without delay.

In Quebec, the sector faced 70 outbreak sites between April 10, 2022, and January 14, 2026, according to La Terre de chez nous. Ducks and turkeys are recognized as more susceptible to the H5N1 strain, and while Quebec accounts for roughly a quarter of Canada’s commercial poultry population, it represented only 9% of affected birds across 30 quarantined production flocks.

Internationally, European authorities have rolled out coordinated response frameworks under a One Health approach. A joint report by the European Food Safety Authority, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the EU reference laboratory recorded 7,000 detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds across 34 European countries between October 1, 2025, and August 28, 2026, marking the highest total in wild birds since monitoring began in October 2019, as reported by Informat.ro.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control assessed the current public health risk as low for the general population and low to moderate for individuals exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.

Agricultural authorities continue investigating the Canadian Poultry Exhibition outbreak while awaiting further diagnostic results from affected provinces.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.