January 27, 2025
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada's national poultry sectors have been responding to detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada since December 2021. The scale of the current worldwide HPAI outbreak is unprecedented and continues to have significant impacts on Canada's poultry industry. The CFIA acknowledges that this is a challenging situation for everyone involved, including animal owners, producers, animal health professionals, and communities across the country.
The CFIA has acted to minimize the risk of the virus spreading within Canadian flocks and to other animals. All avian influenza viruses, particularly H5 and H7 viruses, have the potential to infect mammals including humans. Our disease response has aimed to protect public and animal health, minimize impacts on the domestic poultry industry, and the Canadian economy. This supports Canadian families and poultry farmers whose livelihoods depend on maintaining international market access.
In domestic poultry, including ostriches, this is accomplished through timely depopulation of domestic birds on infected premises, implementing strong biosecurity measures, and properly disposing of carcasses from birds exposed to the disease. These disease control measures are consistent with the CFIA's mandate under the Health of Animals Act and align with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines.
Depopulation can be a distressing outcome for an animal owner. When a depopulation is necessary, the CFIA provides an opportunity for all poultry farmers to develop the most appropriate plan based for their flock and facilities. CFIA veterinarians and inspectors work with poultry farmers to see that depopulation is completed humanely using internationally accepted methods. We also provide guidance to producers throughout the process of depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfection, so they can resume their operations as quickly as possible. Most infected premises start the depopulation process within days of confirmed cases of HPAI.
When depopulation is completed, producers may be awarded compensation in accordance with the Health of Animals Act and under the Compensation for Destroyed Animals and Things Regulations. Compensation is based on the fair market value of the animals. For ostriches, compensation of up to $3000 per bird may be awarded when there is supporting documentation. While compensation may not offset the emotional toll of depopulation, it can provide resources to recover and reestablish operations.
The CFIA takes the responsibility to protect the health of animals and Canadians extremely seriously as we conduct these necessary disease control measures to protect public health and minimize the economic impact on Canada's poultry industry.