Updated: March 19, 2026

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to circulate in Ontario and across Canada. While case numbers fluctuate throughout the year, the virus is now considered an ongoing risk, with increased transmission often associated with seasonal wild bird migration. The virus continues to be detected in wild birds, commercial poultry farms, and some wild mammals, and outbreaks continue to occur in poultry flocks.

Recent detections of HPAI in dairy cattle in the United States highlight the evolving nature of the virus and its ability to affect multiple species. To date, no confirmed cases of HPAI have been found in Canadian cattle, and protections are currently in place to prevent similar outbreaks on Canadian dairy farms.

Domestic poultry such as chickens, laying hens and turkeys, have no natural immunity to HPAI. When they become infected, consequences are severe for the animals and poultry, the poultry industry, and Canada’s food supply chain.

Key Risk Drivers

Wild birds remain the main vector for on-farm transmission. The primary source is contamination from wild migratory birds, especially waterfowl, via open water, yards, bedding and equipment. Secondary spread occurs through people and their clothing, shared equipment and vehicles, contaminated water, bedding, litter and manure, and uncontrolled access of wild birds to barns or feed. In some cases, wild birds may carry the virus without showing visible signs of illness, contributing to ongoing environmental exposure risks.

Risk of contamination and spread is highest in spring and fall migration periods, particularly for wetland-adjacent farms and areas with dense poultry populations, when wild bird movement increases exposure risk for farms.

What This Means for Human Health

The risk of HPAI transmission to the general public in Ontario remains low. Public Health Ontario and regional public health units continue to describe the risk of HPAI infection for most people remains very low.

Most human infections internationally have occurred in workers with direct, unprotected exposure to infected birds or heavily contaminated environments. No sustained human-to-human transmission has been documented.

Individuals working closely with infected animals may be at higher risk and should follow appropriate personal protective measures.

What This Means for Producers

The HPAI virus continues to actively circulate in Ontario’s bird and poultry populations. After recent periods of relative calm, new detections have arisen as recently as November 2025, coinciding with fall migration. Given widescale spread across Canada, and ongoing detections in poultry and wild birds, spillover risk to additional flocks remains significant.

Backyard and urban flock owners are also at risk, particularly if stringent prevention and biosecurity measures aren’t in place.

Due to the broad impact and number of birds affected, there are severe economic and social consequences for the poultry sector, including producers, supply chains, and potentially market confidence.

Backyard and small flock owners remain particularly vulnerable due to increased exposure to wild birds and variable biosecurity practices. All flock owners, regardless of size, should implement strong biosecurity measures.

Spread

HPAI is primarily transmitted to animals by infected migratory birds and can spread further on farms by people through clothing, shoes, vehicles, equipment, and water.

Domestic poultry like chickens, laying hens and turkeys have no natural immunity to HPAI, meaning devastating impacts on birds, the poultry industry, and our food supply system. HPAI does not pose a food safety risk when poultry products (wild and domestic) are handled and cooked properly.

Limiting the Spread

Animal to Animal

• Closely follow biosecurity practices
• Monitor livestock and poultry for signs of illness
• Restrict animal movement unless necessary
• Isolate and monitor sick animals immediately
• Disinfect boots and equipment
• Limit human movement on-farm, including those that come from off-farm
• Reduce bird and wildlife access to farm properties
• Maintain separation between different species of livestock where possible

Animal to People

• Wear proper equipment when handling sick animals
• Follow proper biosecurity and disinfection protocols
• Change clothing before moving between farms
• Limit contact with other livestock and poultry premises
• Restrict human movement on farm and those from off-farm

Water, Feed, and Air

• Restrict unnecessary equipment and vehicles on farm
• Change clothing before moving between farms
• Reduce standing water on your property
• Do not use surface water as a source of drinking water
• Separate biosecurity zones
• Prevent contamination of feed and water sources by wild birds

Disinfection

HPAI is killed easily using common disinfectants. Keep equipment, clothing, and footwear clean to protect animal and human health.

Biosecurity and Producer Recommendations

Livestock and poultry farmers are encouraged to follow strong biosecurity practices to reduce the risk of spreading HPAI between farms, animals, and people. Based on the current situation:

1. Immediately: Review and reinforce biosecurity protocols.

• Enforce controlled entry, using gates, visitor logs, and designated parking.
• Limit visitors, especially if they’ve been on other poultry farms or near wild birds or wetlands.
• Disinfect footwear, clothing, equipment, and vehicles between farm visits or after contact with birds, or use dedicated barn boots and clothing with boot dips or boot covers.
• Control access to water sources, feed and housing, minimizing wild bird/waterfowl contact (e.g. cover outdoor sources, secure barns)
• For small-flock or urban flock owners: Be stringent with biosecurity and health protocols, temporarily suspend mixing birds, avoid introducing new birds, and consider indoor containment during high-risk periods such as migration season, or outbreak waves.

2. Surveillance and Monitoring:

• Conduct daily bird health checks, watching for signs such as: Lethargy, neurological symptoms, respiratory distress, sudden death, swelling, discoloration, diarrhea, which are consistent with HPAI symptoms.
• Train staff to recognize symptoms.
• Promptly report any suspicious illness, or mortalities to CFIA and your veterinarian. Early detection and reporting is key to outbreak mitigation.

3. Movement Controls:

• If located within a Primary Control Zone, follow CFIA regulations for movement of birds, bird products, by-products, and equipment.
• Delay or carefully manage bird purchase, sales, or transfers, especially imports from outside your region or other farms in Primary Control Zones.

4. Communication:

• Clearly communicate to workers, service providers, and neighbouring farms about HPAI risk, biosecurity expectations, and required hygiene protocols.
• For producers and processors, emphasize that properly handled and cooked poultry and egg products remain safe per CFIA’s food safety guidance; There is no evidence HPAI transmits via properly cooked food.
• Encourage awareness among communities about wildlife-poultry interface risks and share guidance on avoiding contact with wild birds or contaminated water/areas.

Wildlife and Broader Risk Context

Ongoing detections in wild birds and wildlife across Canada, tracked via the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative dashboard, continues to represent a reservoir risk. Wild waterfowl remain major carriers.

Given the potential for spillover to other domestic animals (rare, but possible) and persistence in the environment, wildlife–agriculture interfaces remain high-risk zones (wetlands, water sources, barns near woodlots or migration pathways).

OFA and other agricultural organizations continue to monitor the situation closely. Here are some tips for prevention, monitoring, and reporting avian influenza in livestock and poultry.

What to do if you think your birds or livestock are sick

Closely monitor the health status of your animals for clinical signs of disease. If you detect any sick animals on your farm, isolate them and contact your veterinarian immediately. Work with your veterinarian on testing, care of sick animals, and steps for returning them to the herd.

Do not handle any sick or dead birds found on your farm.

Contact your local Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative office for guidance. In Ontario, contact the Ontario regional centre of the Canadian Wildlife Cooperative at 1 (866) 673-4781.

Please see the following resources for more information:

Ontario
Avian Influenza in Poultry
Feather Board Command Centre

Canada
Government of Canada Website on Avian Influenza
Avian Influenza Factsheet
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Livestock
HPAI: Biosecurity Recommendations for Dairy Farmers
National Biosecurity Standards and Biosecurity Principles
Notice to Industry: HPAI in Dairy Cattle in the USA- Addendum to Export Certificate
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Reporting of Sick Birds

United States
CDC Avian Influenza
National Milk Producers Federation Biosecurity Resource
USDA Updates on HPAI

Additional resources:
Boot Washing Factsheet
Handwashing Factsheet
Health and Safety Equipment
Quarantine/ Mortality Management Factsheet