eighty-four thousand birds across Ontario were either killed by disease or destroyed
In the early weeks of spring 2022, a strain of bird flu never before confirmed in Canada quietly crossed from wild skies into Ontario's farmlands, carried not by human hands but by the ancient migrations of birds. Within two weeks, eleven farms had been touched and eighty-four thousand birds had been lost — a toll that surpassed the province's last major outbreak. Federal officials, tracing the disease back to a single distressed hawk in Waterloo, found themselves confronting a reminder that the boundaries between wild nature and domesticated life are never as firm as we imagine.
- H5N1, a highly pathogenic bird flu strain never before seen in Canada, established itself on eleven Ontario farms in under two weeks — a pace that alarmed even seasoned veterinary officials.
- The outbreak began with a neurologically distressed red-tailed hawk found in Waterloo on March 21, and within six days had jumped to a domestic turkey flock, signalling how swiftly wild and farmed worlds can collide.
- Eighty-four thousand birds have been killed or destroyed, surpassing Ontario's last major bird flu event in 2015, with the most recent case detected just west of the Quebec border — raising fears of further geographic spread.
- Investigators found no evidence of farm-to-farm transmission, pointing instead to migratory waterfowl as the likely vector — a pathway officials acknowledge is real but nearly impossible to fully close off.
- Authorities are working to contain further spread while reassuring the public that properly handled poultry carries no food safety risk and that healthy people face no significant threat from avian influenza.
In the span of two weeks, eighty-four thousand birds across Ontario were either killed by disease or destroyed by officials trying to contain it. The culprit was H5N1 — a highly pathogenic bird flu strain that had never before been confirmed in Canada — and by early April it had taken hold on eleven separate farms across the province.
The first warning came on March 21, when a red-tailed hawk showing neurological distress was found in the Region of Waterloo and euthanized. Six days later, the disease appeared in a domestic turkey flock in Guelph-Eramosa Township. By April 10, when federal officials briefed the media, the outbreak had reached eleven properties, with the most recent case detected the day before in Glengarry Township, near the Quebec border. Two affected farms lay close to London — one in Chatham-Kent, another in western Oxford County.
The scale of loss had already eclipsed Ontario's 2015 bird flu incident, when a different strain was contained to three farms and claimed roughly eighty thousand birds. Canada's chief veterinary officer, Mary Jane Ireland, called it one of the larger multi-farm outbreaks in recent memory and underscored its historic weight: this was the first time H5N1 had ever surfaced in Canada.
Federal biologist Chris Sharp and response lead Craig Price both concluded that wild migratory birds — not farm-to-farm contact — were driving the spread, a pathway difficult to prevent entirely. Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture moved to reassure the public: properly cooked poultry posed no food safety risk, and for healthy people without regular exposure to infected birds, avian flu was not considered a significant threat. The immediate focus remained on tracking the disease's movement and keeping it from reaching more farms.
In the span of two weeks, eighty-four thousand birds across Ontario were either killed by disease or destroyed by officials trying to contain it. The culprit was H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu that had never before been confirmed in Canada, and by early April it had established itself on eleven separate farms across the province.
The first sign of trouble came on March 21, when a red-tailed hawk was found in the Region of Waterloo showing neurological distress. The bird was euthanized. Six days later, on March 27, officials confirmed the first outbreak in a domestic flock—turkeys in the Township of Guelph-Eramosa. From there, the disease spread. By the time Craig Price, heading the federal government's response effort, briefed the media on Monday, April 10, the outbreak had reached eleven properties. The most recent case had been detected the day before in Glengarry Township, just west of the Quebec border.
Two of those affected farms were located in areas close to London—one in Chatham-Kent, another in western Oxford County. Price declined to disclose how many birds had been culled at those two sites, citing the need to protect the producers' privacy. The scale of loss elsewhere was staggering enough: the outbreak had already surpassed the 2015 bird flu incident, when a different strain had been contained to three farms in Oxford County and claimed roughly eighty thousand birds, mostly turkeys.
Federal biologist Chris Sharp explained that the current outbreak appeared to have arrived through wild birds rather than spreading farm to farm. Price reinforced this assessment, stating that investigators had found no evidence of the disease moving directly between farms. The virus seemed to be hitching rides on migratory waterfowl and other wild species, a pathway that officials acknowledged was possible but difficult to prevent entirely.
Mary Jane Ireland, Canada's chief veterinary officer and executive director of the animal health directorate at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, called it one of the larger multi-farm outbreaks in recent memory and emphasized the historic significance: this was the first time the H5N1 strain had surfaced in Canada at all. The speed and scope of its establishment across Ontario was sobering.
Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture moved quickly to reassure the public. Properly cooked poultry posed no food safety risk, officials said. For healthy people without regular contact with infected birds, avian influenza was not considered a significant public health threat. The message was clear: the danger was contained to the birds themselves and the farms where they lived. For now, the focus remained on tracking the disease's movement and preventing it from reaching more properties.
Citas Notables
We have not seen or observed evidence of farm-to-farm movement of the disease in any of the outbreaks in Canada. The current outbreaks are most likely an introduction through wild birds.— Craig Price, federal government response coordinator
This is, in recent memory, one of the larger number of cases in multiple provinces of avian influenza and the first time we have had H5N1.— Mary Jane Ireland, Canada's chief veterinary officer
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did this outbreak spread so quickly across eleven farms when the 2015 one was contained to three?
The 2015 outbreak was caught and managed differently, but this one arrived via wild birds—hawks, waterfowl—that don't respect farm boundaries. Once it's in the wild bird population, it becomes much harder to predict where it will land next.
So the farms themselves didn't cause the spread to each other?
No. Officials were explicit about that. There's no evidence of farm-to-farm transmission. Each outbreak appears to be a separate introduction from wildlife. That's actually important because it means the farms weren't negligent—they were just unlucky.
Why keep the numbers secret for the Chatham-Kent and Oxford County farms?
Privacy for the producers. These are family operations, often. Culling eighty-four thousand birds is already a catastrophe. Adding your name and farm location to that story in the newspaper can mean the end of your business, even if it wasn't your fault.
Is this going to happen again?
Almost certainly, yes. H5N1 is circulating in wild birds now. The question isn't whether it will reach more farms, but how quickly officials can respond when it does. The 2015 outbreak took months to eradicate. This one is already bigger.
Should people be worried about eating chicken?
The government says no—properly cooked poultry is safe. The virus dies at normal cooking temperatures. The real concern is for farm workers and people in close contact with infected birds. For the general public buying meat at the store, the risk is minimal.