Brenda O’Farrell
The Advocate

In the first month of 2025, one case of avian flu has been confirmed in Quebec, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The virus was detected at a commercial poultry operation in the MRC of Matawinie, in the Lanaudière region. It is the only active case in the province, the food inspection agency claims. It was confirmed on Jan. 31. No other details are available.

The case is one of 37 active cases in the country as of Jan. 31, the agency reported.

Previously, the agency has recorded a total of 58 cases of the infectious disease in Quebec, which have affected a total of about 1.46 million birds. Across Canada there have been 486 cases, with British Columbia being the hardest hit.

As of Jan. 31, there were 27 active cases in B.C. impacting just more than 8.7 million birds.

Although the virus has been detected in a dairy herd in the U.S., no such inter-species transfer has occurred in Canada, a statement issued by the food inspection agency claimed.  Only poultry operations have been infected in this country.

On Feb. 11, however, Parks Canada issued a warning after a case of bird flu was confirmed in Rouge National Urban Park in the Scarborough area in Ontario. The warning advised visitors to the park to keep dogs on leashes and report if any sick or dead birds are spotted. Five suspected cases in the park have also been found, Parks Canada said in a statement issued Feb. 11.

Federal officials say the H5N1 avian influenza virus is currently “circulating widely” in the country. Since 2021, it has been found in wild birds in every province and territory.