The Government of Saskatchewan has put an animal health control area order in place.

The order is in place to limit the co-mingling of poultry due to the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The order prohibits birds’ movement to and participation in shows, auctions and agricultural fairs, and any other events where birds would be brought together from multiple locations.

Dr. Stephanie Smith, the Chief Veterinary Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, said they put the order in place due to the imminent disease risk.

“This year, we are seeing a higher than normal level of high pathogenic season influenza,” she said. “With the risk of disease transmission, we want to do our due diligence to try and prevent any cases where we could have a significant disease outbreak that could occur when poultry are being brought to a single location where they are being mixed and then returned; back to your flocks.”

HPAI has been detected in multiple provinces in Canada, with Saskatchewan reporting its first case in waterfowl on April 8. Several provinces have been or are currently experiencing outbreaks in domestic poultry, most recently in Albert and Ontario.

Smith said that they have only one positive detection to date; however, she suspects more will be reported.

“We are hearing a number of reports from the public regarding wild birds that are either sick or dying across the province. I would not be surprised to see additional positives in wildlife in the coming weeks.”

Smith said that prevention is the best medicine.

“It is important to follow some good biosecurity practices such as keeping your barn doors locked to prevent unauthorized access, limiting the exposure of visitors to your premises, using barn specific clothing or footwear to enter the barn to make sure you are not tracking any disease, when at all possible preventing contact with wild birds and other animals.”

Producers should contact their veterinarian immediately if they have concerns about the health status of their flocks. If HPAI is suspected, producers should also contact their local Canadian Food Inspection Agency office.

Anyone with further questions on avian influenza in poultry can contact the Ministry of Agriculture’s Veterinary Unit at 1-306-787-2150.

The order will be in place until May 14.