In a major development for poultry health and biosecurity, the United States has gone more than a month without any new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), while Canada has experienced three months free of infections in commercial flocks. This pause in the disease’s spread provides a moment of relief for poultry producers and health officials across North America.

• The last confirmed case of HPAI in a U.S. commercial flock occurred on July 2, involving 29,300 game birds in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
• Since then, all control zones established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have been lifted.
• The control zone in Pennsylvania was officially lifted on July 24, following a previous zone in Maricopa County, Arizona, where two commercial table-egg flocks had been affected.
• The most recent backyard infection in the U.S. was reported on June 11.
The last commercial HPAI case in Canada was reported on May 2 at a turkey and duck farm in Wallace, Manitoba, affecting nearly 14,400 birds. While several backyard and non-commercial farms experienced infections in May, the most recent case was confirmed on May 15 in Kings County, Prince Edward Island. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, movement and zoning restrictions have been lifted in all provinces except British Columbia and Manitoba. Quarantines have ended in most areas, with exceptions in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island.
• This lull in HPAI activity is a welcome development after months of ongoing outbreaks that disrupted poultry production and trade.
• The absence of new cases indicates that containment measures—including quarantines, movement restrictions, and enhanced biosecurity protocols—have been effective in limiting the virus’s spread.
However, experts warn that vigilance must remain high. HPAI continues to circulate among wild bird populations, posing a persistent risk of reintroduction into domestic flocks. Ongoing surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and strict on-farm biosecurity remain essential to preventing future outbreaks.
As the poultry industry closely monitors the situation, this recent calm offers an opportunity to assess preparedness strategies and strengthen defenses. For now, both the United States and Canada can cautiously celebrate a period of stability in their fight against avian influenza.

Source: avinews.com