Avian Influenza is a virus that can readily spread between different avian species, and occasionally mammals (including humans). While the virus has been known for decades, like other influenza strains it mutates over time and we see new variants. The current strain, H5N1, was first detected in Canada in 2021, with global outbreaks in 2022, 2023, and 2024. BC was one of numerous jurisdictions across Canada and around the world that were affected during each outbreak.

The virus is carried by migrating wild birds, especially waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and swans. These birds congregate every summer in Arctic breeding grounds, sharing the virus with each other, before migrating to their home regions in the fall and returning the following spring. Consequently, in recent years, we have experienced significant outbreaks in the fall, and to a lesser extent in the spring.

The virus can be spread through contact, feces, and secretions as well as through human movement, contaminated feed or water, and equipment. Limiting the virus’ opportunities to spread along such lines to domestic poultry flocks is our primary focus.

Industry & government response

To that end, BC’s poultry farmers have implemented robust biosecurity measures consistent with guidelines and practices implemented across Canada and around the world.

We keep many measures in place year-round, such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and monitoring for & reporting sick animals. During periods of elevated risk farmers take several additional measures and carefully monitor for any symptoms in their flocks, reporting any potential symptoms immediately so authorities can visit their farm and conduct tests.

We have learned a lot about this virus since 2021, and applied that learning with refinements to our approach each season. Our work with the federal CFIA and provincial agriculture ministry and BC Centre For Disease Control to continually learn more about the virus through good science and practices is essential to management of the disease.

During the 2024 outbreak, refining rapid reporting and response with the CFIA was a key priority. Over those months, it typically took just a few hours from initial report to test results coming in, allowing fast action and containment of the virus on that one farm. This helped to mitigate the spread compared to previous outbreaks.

Continued focus on good biosecurity measures is also important. The poultry industry has developed three biosecurity levels (green, yellow, and red) each with a set of actions farmers should take to manage current risk levels. A committee recommends when the industry should move up or down a level, based on risk profile. For example, in the fall of 2025 poultry farms in neighbouring Washington State and Alberta started seeing infections during the annual wild bird migration, leading this committee to elevate BC’s biosecurity level to the highest level on September 9 – going from yellow to red.

When that highest, red, biosecurity level is in place farm gates are literally closed – visitors are limited to essential workers only, and their vehicles must be cleaned prior to coming on to the farm. Farmers wear additional PPE and must change and clean their boots when they enter and leave the barn. During those times the province tests soil for the virus, while farmers minimize any wet areas that may attract wild waterfowl, and actively watch for ill birds in their flock. The measures are onerous, but important.

BC’s Chief Veterinarian will also order farmers to bring their birds inside barns to minimize interaction with wild birds which may carry the virus, and during outbreaks imposes restrictions on the transportation of animals in zones around infected premises.

You can read more about the measures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency here, and more about the province’s measures here.

Together with government, we are doing everything we can to stop the spread of Avian Influenza in BC.

Fraser Valley zones

Primary Control Zones are a key measure to prevent spread of avian influenza. When an infected premise is detected the CFIA establishes a zone for 10 km around it, within which other poultry operations must test birds for high pathogenic avian influenza before moving live birds or products. These measures are taken on top of other biosecurity requirements such as cleaning vehicles entering a farm and restricting access to essential personnel.

These Fraser Valley is unique in B.C. – with a higher density of both farms and people. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has adopted a modified approach in the region, establishing 11 pre-set Primary Control Zones that activate when any farm in a zone or within 10 km of it border tests positive for high pathogenic avian influenza. This simplifies management and logistics of the zones while ensuring effective control measures. Here is a map of those pre-set zones.

The BC Poultry Association (BCPA) maintains a biosecurity system with three colour-coded levels, each with a set of measures farmers must take to manage current risk levels. The prescribed actions are mandatory, based on science, and consistent with biosecurity measures required by the CFIA and provincial agriculture ministry. The current system was last updated in September of 2023.

A committee of representatives from government, veterinary services, and industry determines when to move between levels based on explicit triggers. For example, a disease outbreak in a neighbouring jurisdiction such as Alberta or Washington State prompts the committee to review its current level.

The highest, or red, biosecurity level was last activated September 9, 2025, following infections on two poultry farms in Alberta, and is currently in place.

These measures are onerous, but important.