Memo: Avian Influenza

What is Avian Influenza?

Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease caused by a type of Influenza A virus which primarily infects domestic poultry and wild birds Avian Influenza (H5N1) has been detected in animal populations across Canada, including poultry, wild waterfowl, and mammals, and in the United States in livestock such as dairy cattle. This disease can create severe illness in animals.

Current Situation and Risk

Avian Influenza (H5N1) has caused rare and sporadic infections in humans. To date, there has been no evidence of sustained transmission between humans. Since 2024, there have been over 60 confirmed reported human cases and one death associated with H5N1 bird flu infection in the United States. In November 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed a human case of avian influenza, which was the first reported domestically acquired case in Canada since H5N1 first emerged in 1997. Currently, in Ontario, there have been no laboratory-confirmed cases of H5N1 in 2024.

Can humans get Avian Influenza?

Although the overall risk of avian influenza (H5N1) to the Canadian population remains low, those exposed to potentially sick animals are at increased risk for contraction of the disease.

How does it spread?

Human infection with avian influenza can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. This can happen when the virus is in the air (in droplets or dust), and a person breathes it in, or when a person touches something that is contaminated with the virus and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose. Individuals can be exposed to the virus through contact with various sources including: secretions (mucus, saliva), blood and feces of infected animals.

Who is most at risk?

Those at Increased Risk include persons:

• working with poultry (like chickens, turkeys and ducks) or livestock (like cattle and goats), on a commercial farm or with small farms or backyard flocks
• hunting, de-feathering, field dressing and butchering wild birds and wild mammals
• working with wild birds for activities such as rehabilitation, research, or conservation
• working with wild mammals, especially those that commonly eat wild birds (like foxes, skunks, raccoons, mink and other farmed fur animals and some marine mammals)
• visiting animal farms or live animal markets
• consuming unpasteurized milk
• consuming raw or undercooked meat

What are the symptoms of Avian Influenza?

Symptoms can include:

• conjunctivitis (red eyes),
• fever,
• body aches,
• cough,
• sore throat,
• breathing problems
• diarrhea and vomiting (less common).

Tell your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms and if you have been around birds in the past 10 days (especially if you have been around sick/dead birds or other wildlife).

Is there a test?

Tests are available to detect avian influenza in humans which can be performed by your health care provider. For medical or health advice, contact your health care provider or Health811 toll-free at 8-1-1.

Is there treatment?

Antiviral medications may be considered after exposure to animals infected with avian influenza. Speak with your health care provider regarding symptoms, testing and treatment. For medical or health advice, contact your health care provider or Health811 toll-free at 8-1-1.

Precautions and Prevention

Basic Precautions for the general public include:

• Stay away from wild birds and other wild animals, don't touch, feed, or handle them.
• Avoid contact with sick livestock (e.g. commercial or domestic poultry) or other animals.
• Do not handle wild dead birds or animals, call Animal Control to remove the carcasses when on municipal property.
• * If contact is unavoidable, wear gloves or use a doubled plastic bag if you must handle wild bird carcasses, and avoiding contact with blood, body fluids, and feces. You should then wash your 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.
• Avoid surfaces that may have animal droppings or secretions on them and always wash your hands after being in an area where birds and other wildlife are living or nesting, such as in parks or zoos.
• Ensure all foods made with poultry, meat and eggs are cooked well and that your milk/milk products are pasteurized.
• Although there is no vaccine specific for Avian Influenza, it is crucial to stay up-to-date on the seasonal influenza vaccine.