7 southwestern Ontario poultry farms in quarantine after avian flu outbreak [Video]

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says seven poultry farms in southwestern Ontario are under quarantine due to an avian flu outbreak. 

These include four farms near Ingersoll, two in Strathroy and one in North Middlesex County. The first cases were detected on Dec. 14, 2024, and officials say the virus was transmitted to the area through migratory birds.

“The source is generally migratory birds, so it’s usually spread through direct contact with wild birds or indirectly through fecal matter or contaminated water, soil or feed,” said Grant Loney, incident commander for the Ontario Avian Influenza Response. 

Loney said that a 10-kilometre control zone should be placed around the quarantined facilities to ensure that any poultry or byproducts exposed to birds moving in and out of the zone are tested regularly. 

“It reduces the spread, and there are also export requirements, so we set these zones up to continue to …