Yesterday, CBC News reported Avian flu outbreak at national poultry show spreads to other provinces: CFIA, citing receipt of a CFIA statement. I was unable to find it on the CFIA website, but did locate a copy on the Saskatchewan Poultry Association Group Facebook page (above).
The text reads:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
November 13, 2026
Important Notice: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Exposure
In Canada, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a federally reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act for all animals, meaning any suspected or confirmed case must be reported immediately to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The CFIA has detected a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza associated with a poultry show held on November 07, 2026 by the American Poultry Association for District 11 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. If you showed birds at the event, or purchased or sold birds at the event, please immediately contact the CFIA's sick bird call line at 1-403-338-5225 if the CFIA has not already contacted you.
If you attended the event without showing, purchasing, or selling birds, but you have birds of your own at home, please monitor them for any signs of illness. The incubation period of HPAL ranges from 2 to 14 days and it can be transmitted to other birds in multiple ways, such as birds having direct or indirect contact with infected birds, or through the movement of contaminated clothing/footwear to other groups of birds. If your own birds display any clinical signs which could be associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza (ex. lethargic, not eating, swollen cyes/wattles/combs, respiratory signs, unexpected decrease in egg production, or deaths), immediately contact the CFIA's sick bird call line at 1-403-338-5225 to report this suspicion of
Thank you for your cooperation in helping to control this outbreak. For more information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza, visit:
CFIA reported their first outbreak in poultry of the fall on September 10th, followed by a slow ramping up of cases through the rest of September (n=8) and October (n=13). Over the past 5 days, however, the number of outbreaks has risen sharply (n=11).
Poultry exhibitions tend to be held in the fall, since adult birds molt in the summer and typically regain peak appearance in October and November, chicks hatched in the spring reach full adult size by autumn, and transport of birds is easier during cooler weather (less heat stress).
Unfortunately, this also corresponds with the fall bird migration and increased risk of HPAI.
While this Saskatchewan event appears to be one of the last big events this year in Canada, the American Poultry Association still lists a number of large events scheduled over the next two months.
HPAI outbreaks traced to poultry exhibitions in North America have been rare thus far due to biosecurity measures in place and a willingness to cancel events, but we have seen numerous outbreaks linked to live bird markets (see USDA Reports Another H5N1 Outbreak at a Live Bird Market (Pennsylvania)).
Each year it seems to get a little bit harder to prevent and/or contain HPAI. While fortuitous evolution might someday attenuate those risks, so far, we've seen little sign of that happening.
















