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Niagara Region Public Health is investigating a confirmed report of H5N1, avian influenza, in a mixed flock of birds, including chicken, geese and ducks.
A news release from Niagara Region Public Health said the department is working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to monitor and respond to the situation.
“Only those working on the farm with the birds are at any risk, and public health has followed up with each of them individually,” said Dr. Joanne Kearon, a resident physician working with Niagara Region Public Health. “We are working with our provincial and federal partners to contain the infection so that it doesn’t spread to any other birds and, in turn, doesn’t pose a risk to anyone else.”
Public health said avian influenza is a viral disease mainly affecting domestic poultry and wild birds such as geese, ducks and shore birds.
The virus spreading from animals to humans is uncommon but has been observed. The exact mode of transmission from birds to people is not known. However, most human cases of avian influenza have been traced to direct contact with live or dead infected poultry or their droppings.
While avian influenza remains rare in Ontario, owners of birds exposed to the outdoors should practise some routine precautions such as rigorous hand washing and wearing personal protective equipment as appropriate.
Safety principles for those with backyard chickens or other domestic birds are available from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Local municipalities also have information about keeping backyard poultry and associated bylaws.
Public health advises residents to avoid handling wild birds, including those that are sick, injured or dead.
It also asks residents to report any sick or dead birds to the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at (866) 673-4781.
More information on avian influenza is available online on two government web pages, including the status of ongoing avian influenza response by province, while the Government of Canada’s website has a page about protecting a flock from the virus.
