Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development advises the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) has confirmed the presence of avian influenza in two different wild bird samples in Manitoba.

Samples from several snow geese were collected in southwestern Manitoba near Waskada and a single sample from a bald eagle was collected in the Dauphin area. A sample from each location has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1.

To date, no cases of avian influenza have been detected in poultry flocks in Manitoba.

Cases of HPAI H5N1 have been confirmed in a number of Canadian provinces and the United States including jurisdictions immediately south of Manitoba in North Dakota and Minnesota along the route for spring migratory birds returning to Manitoba.

Manitoba’s poultry farmers are urged to follow strict biosecurity protocols including taking precautions with farm visitors and service companies. Producers are also advised to continue to monitoring information provided through their sector organizations and the Office of the Chief Veterinarian.