Ontario: Avian flu in wild birds 2023 - 2025

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/winds...enza-1.7418622

Wings Rehab Centre reports avian influenza cases
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says it is in discussions with the centre about the situation
CBC News · Posted: Dec 24, 2024 11:30 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago



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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) and an Amherstburg, Ont., wildlife rehabilitation centre are both warning people to be careful around animals after several waterfowl in the centre's care tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5NX).

In a post on Facebook, Wings Rehabilitation Centre advises anyone coming in contact with an injured bird to wear gloves and a mask and to thoroughly wash hands and clothes after contact.

Staff are also advising people to call the wildlife hotline if they come across a suspected case of H5NX or find an injured bird in need of medical treatment...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/artic...bird-flu-trca/

Two snowy owls found dead in Toronto park infected with bird flu: TRCA
By Alex Arsenych
Published: January 17, 2025 at 4:36PM EST

Two snowy owls that were found dead at Tommy Thompson Park late last December tested positive for bird flu, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) says.

“Test results indicate the owls were infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. We cannot confirm that it is H5N1,” Karen McDonald, TRCA’s senior manager for restoration and infrastructure confirmed to CTV News Toronto.

McDonald adds they were found to be infected with a highly pathogenic avian flu that has been seen across North America for the last few years. H5N1 is classified as a highly pathogenic bid flu, based on the severity of illness that it causes among birds...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/...prompt-warning

Geese killed by avian flu in London area prompt warning
Author of the article:
Brian Williams • Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Published Jan 17, 2025

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is warning residents not to touch wild birds after confirming several geese in the region died from avian flu.

The health unit issued a warning Friday after three Canada geese recently found dead in two locations – in London and Strathroy – tested positive for the “highly pathogenic strain” of avian flu known as H5NX.

“We have seen that this is highly pathogenic,” said associate medical officer Joanne Kearon. “It can lead to very severe outcomes in the birds that get infected. However, the probability of it being transmitted from birds to humans is low.”
Article content

The H5NX virus confirmed in the dead birds is avian influenza, but there is still further “typing” necessary to determine which strain of bird flu was found, Kearon said. She expects it will be a strain that is circulating widely.

“Given what we have seen in Ontario, in our local region, as well as across North America, when that information is available, I am expecting that it is going to be H5N1,” Kearon said...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://kawarthanow.com/2025/01/21/h...se-in-cobourg/


Health unit urges caution after bird flu confirmed in Canada goose in Cobourg
Residents encouraged to report dead wildlife and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of avian influenza
By kawarthaNOW -
Published January 21, 2025

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit is reminding the public to be cautious around wild birds and adhere to recommended safety precautions after a Canada goose in Cobourg was confirmed to be infected with bird flu.

Between January 3 and 6, there were reports of a large die-off of geese and ducks in the Cobourg harbour area, and it is believed the die-off was a result of avian influenza. A Canada goose found in the harbour on January 3 was submitted for testing and was subsequently confirmed by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to be infected with bird flu.

Although the risk of transmission to humans is very low since the birds were found in an open environment and there are no remaining dead birds at the site, the health unit is reminding people to be cautious and adhere to recommended safety precautions if interacting with wild birds...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...park-1.7452738

Bird flu case confirmed, 5 more suspected at Rouge National Urban Park: provincial agency
Experts advise public to avoid touching wildlife and keep dogs on leashes
Britnei Bilhete · CBC News · Posted: Feb 09, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Parks Canada says it has found a confirmed case of bird flu in a Canada goose at Rouge National Urban Park and suspects five more.

A preliminary diagnostic report of a dead goose by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative confirmed it was highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), says Rouge's ecosystem scientist Jory Mullen.

"For wildlife, it's a bit of a precarious situation — obviously, it's highly contagious," Mullen said.

"The virus can survive upwards of months in ideal conditions."

Five other geese were found with bird flu symptoms, but Mullen says the park won't be looking to further viral testing following the one confirmed case...

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Avian flu: Why a cold winter is leading to more H5N1 cases among birds
...
Patrick Cain
about 4 hours ago
...
Heather Reid, the Toronto Wildlife Centre's head veterinarian, said the organization began to notice signs of the virus among the city’s bird population at the start of 2025.

"In January, after we started having very cold weather, we started seeing increased reporting of suspicious birds that were showing symptoms that seemed consistent with avian influenza,” she said.

"The virus can survive cold weather, and as the water freezes, the birds are forced to be together in the open waters,” Reid explained. “Probably the stress of the cold also might weaken the birds a little bit.”
...
Since the new year, there have been some well-publicized cases of birds found dead of H5N1 around Toronto's shoreline.

In the city’s outskirts, a Canada goose was found dead in late January in Rouge National Urban Park from avian flu.

Parks Canada spokesperson Hayley Lashmar said the organization “has confirmed incidents of bird mortality due to avian influenza in Rouge National Urban Park.”

She did not provide an exact figure.
...
The Rouge Park discovery of bird flu follows the Toronto conservation authority's announcement on Jan. 17 that two snowy owls died of H5N1. The owls were found dead at the Leslie Street Spit, in the central city's east end.
...

https://www.pelhamtoday.ca/local-news/avian-flu-why-a-cold-winter-is-leading-to-more-h5n1-cases-among-birds-10262856

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Regional Municipality of Peel
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Municipality_of_Peel
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Suspected cases of avian influenza detected in Peel Region

BRAMPTON, ON (March 7, 2025) – Peel Public Health suspects cases of avian influenza in wild birds in Peel following the discovery of a large number of dead birds in the region recently. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative is currently testing the birds to determine the cause of death.

Avian influenza primarily infects wild birds but can be transmitted to poultry and other mammals. Rarely, avian influenza may also spread to people. The risk of bird-to-human transmission is low. There have been no human cases of avian influenza in Peel or Ontario.

If you find sick or dead wild birds, avoid handling them if possible, and contact your local municipal animal control department or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

To limit the spread of avian influenza and protect the health and safety of residents and pets, Peel Public Health has the following advice:

• If handling dead birds or animals is necessary, wear gloves, place the dead bird or animal in a doubled plastic bag and tie it closed. Then, wash your hands thoroughly. They can be placed, double-bagged, in the garbage for disposal.
• Consider removing backyard bird feeders and bird baths. If they cannot be fully removed, place as far away from family pets as possible and clean with 10 per cent bleach at least once every two weeks.
• Keep family pets away from birds and fecal matter.
• Keep cats indoors and dogs on leash to limit the potential for an encounter with an infected bird.
• Do not feed family pets raw meat from game birds or poultry.
• Do not feed or otherwise interact with wild birds.
• Pet birds, if not normally kept indoors, should be restricted to the indoors.
• Residents who raise backyard chickens, own pet birds or maintain other flocks, should monitor them for signs of avian influenza and follow preventive actions recommended by the Province and Government of Canada.
• Do not attempt to retrieve or help birds from seemingly frozen bodies of water as ice and water conditions are unsafe.
• If you become ill with influenza (flu) symptoms (including fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, headache and/or red watery eyes) within 10 days of handling wild birds or other wildlife, see your healthcare provider. Inform your healthcare provider that you have been in contact with wildlife.

The risk of avian influenza spreading to humans is extremely rare. There are no indicators of increasing risk to the general public at this time. Additional details will be provided as they become available. More information on avian influenza can be found on the Ministry of Health's website.

While the risk of humans contracting avian influenza is low, Peel Public Health urges residents to avoid handling sick or dead birds in order to limit any potential spread of avian influenza and to protect themselves, any pets and the community.

Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health, Peel Public Health

https://peelregion.ca/press-releases...-peel-region-0

[Lance]

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5582

[Pathfinder]

Bruce County
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_County
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News Releases

Published on Tuesday, April 1, 2025

GBPH reminds residents to avoid handling wild birds; take steps to protect against avian flu

Grey Bruce Public Health has been notified that laboratory tests on wild birds – found deceased near the Lake Huron shoreline in southern Bruce County – have returned as positive for avian influenza (H5N1).

Bruce Power, in collaboration with the University of Guelph and wildlife authorities, proactively collected samples for testing by the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative (CWHC) after observing a number of deceased waterfowl north of the company’s site.

The risk of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, passing from infected wild birds to people remains very low. When human infections have occurred, it’s almost always following sustained close contact with infected live or dead poultry or contaminated facilities. In addition, there has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of avian influenza.

While avian influenza has been detected in wild birds in every province and territory in Canada, no human cases of the virus have been attributed to exposure to wild birds in North America.

However, Grey Bruce Public Health is reminding the public to exercise caution if interacting with wild birds.

“We would like to thank Bruce Power for proactively working to determine the cause of this mortality event involving a number of waterfowl and for notifying Grey Bruce Public Health about the test results,” says Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton.

“Even though human infections with avian influenza are very rare, it’s always advantageous to remind people to take steps to minimize the risk of potential exposure to this virus, such as by avoiding contact with dead or sick wild birds or animals.”

Wild birds are natural carriers of avian influenza viruses. Although a majority of these birds exhibit no symptoms, the disease can cause wild bird deaths. From Jan. 1 to March 11, 2025, the CWHC dead bird survey identified 145 birds positive for avian influenza in Ontario.

H5N1 continues to circulate worldwide with ongoing detections in various wild, domestic, and backyard bird populations. The virus has also been detected in various wild and domestic mammalian species.

In November 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed a human case of avian influenza caused by H5N1 in Canada. It was the first reported domestically acquired human case of H5N1 avian influenza in Canada since the virus first emerged in humans in 1997.

To minimize the risk of exposure to avian influenza, people should:

• Avoid direct contact with ill or dead wild birds or animals. If handling ill or dead birds is necessary, wear gloves and place the bird in two sealed plastic bags. Avoid contact with any body fluids and feces. Afterwards, wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer. Be sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect any tools (e.g., shovel) used in disposing of dead birds with hot, soapy water and then use a household disinfectant.
• Report sick or dead wildlife to the CWHC at 1-800-567-2033.
• Follow safe cooking guidelines when preparing poultry/eggs. Always cook poultry to an internal temperature of 74°C to ensure safety from potential pathogens.
• Not handle or eat animals that appear sick or have died from unknown causes.
• Keep pets away from sick or dead birds or wildlife and keep dogs leashed when outside to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds.
• Monitor domestic birds for signs of illness and follow Canadian Government recommendations.

Avian Influenza can be a significant burden to poultry farms, as the disease can pass to poultry from wild birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reminds people to contact them if they suspect their birds, such as chickens, have avian influenza. CFIA reminds all flock owners that anyone with birds must practice enhanced biosecurity procedures.

To date, there is no evidence to suggest that fully cooked game meat, organs, or eggs are a source of avian influenza infection for people.

https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/About-Us/News-Releases/ArtMID/2193/ArticleID/150/GBPH-reminds-residents-to-avoid-handling-wild-birds-take-steps-to-protect-against-avian-flu