Avian influenza in Canada
The page content was updated in May 2023.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been detected in wild birds in Canada, including migratory birds. During spring and fall migration, it is important for northern residents to be aware of this issue and to be on alert for birds with signs of HPAI.
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Transcript
Panik: Two more Dad! I think we have enough I got twenty eggs, so I think we have enough for Mom and Grandma and Auntie Sue.
Father: Great work Panik, and we have goose for supper tonight. Let's head back to the boat, it's almost high tide.
Panik: Hey Dad, my teacher says birds can get sick. Is that true?
Father: Yes, birds can get sick Panik. We have seen sick birds on the land, and we do not hunt them.
Panik: Mrs. Barton talked to us about bird flu, and she said that sometimes people can get it. She also said that when bird flu is around many birds can get sick all at once.
Father: That may be, I'm not sure about that. Uncle Peter said he saw a few geese down the bay that looked sick. Tell you what, let's drop in on Pauloosie at the wildlife office, and ask him.
[Panik and her father make their way to the wildlife office.]
Uncle Peter: Yes, scientists call it 'avian influenza'. We haven't seen it much here but its probably present in some birds, though not all birds that have it look sick.
Panik: How do we know which ones might be sick?
Uncle Peter: You may find dead birds on the land or birds that act sick and, obviously, we don't want to harvest those. Sick birds might look nervous, lazy, uncoordinated, they might tremble or show swelling around the head, neck, and eyes, and they can even cough or sneeze.
Panik: Birds can sneeze?
Uncle Peter: Yes! If you see any of these behaviors in a bird, leave the bird and let me know where you've seen it. Also, be sure to let me know right away if you find dead birds. The sooner I know this the better it is, this way I can get samples and we will know for sure if the avian influenza is the cause.
Father: You said some birds can have the sickness but have no symptoms? That means we might harvest a sick bird and not know it.
Uncle Peter: That could be, and even though the chance of us catching avian influenza from sick birds is low, there are a few things we can do to be extra to safe. Firstly, we don't handle or eat birds that look sick or, have died from unknown causes.
[On screen] This applies to all wildlife!
For all birds you do catch, wear gloves. When preparing them and handling their eggs and try to work on them outdoors. When handling birds, avoid touching your face and do not eat drink or smoke while handling birds or eggs.
Separate clean and dirty eggs during collection. Do not collect cracked or overly dirty eggs. Rub dirt and debris off eggs with a dry cloth or paper towel. Do not wash or soak eggs in water. Washing can allow germs to enter the egg.
Wash your hands with warm soapy water immediately, after handling birds or eggs.
[On screen] Or use hand sanitizer or wipe with at least 60% alcohol.
Wash and disinfect equipment and surfaces that touch the egg or birds. Change and wash clothing and footwear that may be contaminated with blood, feces, or mucous, and when you move between separate bird colonies make sure to brush soil and vegetation off your boots and clothing.
This way we can also avoid spreading avian influenza on the land.
Father: That makes sense. So, you're saying if we catch a sick bird even if it looks normal and healthy, we can still eat it?
Uncle Peter: It is safe to consume fully cooked birds and eggs. There should be no pink meat and meat juices should run clear and that's how you know you've fully cooked your meat.
[On screen] Fully cooked meat pieces or eggs will have an internal temperature of 74 ° C (165 °F). Fully cooked whole birds will have an internal temperature of 82 ° C (180 ° F).
You are safe, as long as you follow these precautions, and don't eat partially cooked meat, frozen meat, or raw eggs. They have found that freezing does not kill the virus.
Panik: What about chicken eggs from the store?
Uncle Peter: That's very different, store-bought chicken and eggs are well regulated and monitored for disease, our wild birds are different and it's much harder to control the spread of the disease among wild birds. Just like people getting colds and the flu in the community it can spread and be bad at times and then it can subside.
Father: So as long as we are aware and follow the recommendations, we are all safe?
Uncle Peter: That's it! It's really common sense here and awareness. Here, take this pamphlet, it's got all the information we talked about. You can always drop by here, or a wildlife office in any community to get the latest information on avian influenza.
Panik: Thanks, I'm going to show this to Mrs. Barton, so my class knows all the facts about avian influenza and safe harvesting so we can all enjoy this healthy mamaqtuq country food.
[On screen] If you become ill with influenza symptoms after handling wild birds, their eggs or other wildlife, contact your local health centre as soon as possible and inform them that you have been in contact with wildlife. For additional information, visit ca-ciconline.com/avian-flu-arctic.
On this page
- What is avian influenza?
- What is the risk to humans?
- What is the risk to other animals?
- What should you do if you find dead or sick birds?
- What precautions should you take when hunting game birds?
- What precautions should you take when harvesting eggs?
- How do you cook or prepare wild bird meat or harvested eggs?
- What precautions should you take when travelling between bird nesting areas?
- Stay informed
- References
What is avian influenza?
Avian influenza is a viral infection that is highly contagious among birds and can be found in domestic poultry and wild birds, including ducks, geese, swans, gulls, terns, shorebirds, cranes, and raptors. Avian influenza can also infect wild and domestic mammals, especially those who hunt, scavenge, or eat infected birds. Foxes, mink, bears and seals, as well as dogs and cats, are some mammals that have been infected with avian influenza.
Wild birds, especially waterfowl, naturally carry some avian influenza viruses. They are not always affected by the disease but can transmit it to other wild birds and domestic birds. Avian influenza viruses are classified as low or highly pathogenic based on their ability to cause disease in domestic poultry. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread rapidly and cause severe disease in poultry. On rare occasions, avian influenza viruses can cause disease in humans.
Signs that a bird may have HPAI include nervousness; tremors or lack of coordination; swelling around the head, neck and eyes; lack of energy or movement; coughing, gasping for air or sneezing; diarrhea or sudden death. Not all infected birds appear sick.
Multiple dead birds in one location is a sign that the virus may be present.
What is the risk to humans?
The risk of transmission of HPAI to humans from wild birds and other wildlife is low.
As a precaution, basic measures are recommended for hunters and other bird handlers to reduce the risk of disease and prevent spread of the virus:
- wear gloves,
- work in a well-ventilated environment,
- wash hands with soap and warm water,
- clean and disinfect equipment, and
- wash or change clothing.
It is safe for people to eat fully cooked waterfowl meat and eggs.
What is the risk to other animals?
While avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds, it can also infect wild and domestic mammals such as foxes, mink, bears and seals, as well as dogs and cats. These animals can become ill after scavenging or eating infected bird carcasses or from exposure to heavily contaminated environments.
Hunters and trappers should be careful when handling wild animals, including wild carnivores and marine mammals who may eat infected birds or be exposed to contaminated environments.
It is good practice to prevent pets, such as dogs and cats, from contacting or eating sick or dead wild birds and other wildlife. More information for pet owners can be found via the Environment and Climate Change Canada website and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
What should you do if you find dead or sick birds?
If you encounter birds acting strangely or dead birds, you are encouraged to report sightings directly to the Conservation Officer in your community or other relevant authority.
Members of the public should not handle wild birds found dead or live birds that are acting strangely. If contact with wild birds found dead is unavoidable, wear gloves or use a doubled plastic bag and avoid contact with the bird's body fluids and feces. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Avian influenza has also been found in other wildlife, such as foxes, mink, bears and seals. Members of the public should not handle wildlife found dead or live animals that are acting strangely. You are always encouraged to report sightings of wildlife acting strangely or dead wildlife to your local Conservation Office or other relevant authority.
What precautions should you take when hunting game birds?
It is considered safe to hunt, handle and eat healthy game birds.
However, hunters and trappers should be careful when handling wild birds and some wild mammals (see section ‘What is the risk to other animals?’).
To protect your health and to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus, consider these recommendations:
- Do not handle or eat birds or other wildlife that appear to be sick or that have died from unknown causes.
- When handling or cleaning wild birds:
- Wear gloves (e.g., vinyl, latex, nitrile, rubber).
- Work in a well-ventilated environment, when possible outdoors (upwind), or wear a mask when working indoors or in a poorly ventilated area to avoid inhaling dust, feathers and aerosols.
- Avoid direct contact with blood, feces and respiratory secretions. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth, and do not eat, drink, or smoke.
- Keep children and pets away from tools and areas that could be contaminated.
- Do not feed pets raw meat, organs, or scraps from carcasses.
- Wash hands with soap and warm water immediately after you have finished handling or cleaning harvested birds or use hand sanitizer/wipe (at least 60% alcohol).
- After you are done cleaning, thoroughly clean and disinfect tools and work surfaces with soapy water, and then use a household disinfectant or bleach solution (25 ml or 5 tsp bleach to 2 L or 8 cups water).
- Immediately remove and wash or change clothing and footwear that may be contaminated with blood, feces or respiratory secretions.
All those who are eligible are encouraged to get their seasonal flu shot. The seasonal flu shot will not prevent a person from getting infected with avian influenza, but it can limit the chance of a person getting infected with both human and avian influenza viruses at the same time. Mixing of influenza viruses could lead to the development of new influenza viruses that could be harmful to both animals and people.
If you become ill with influenza symptoms (e.g., cough, fever) within 10 days after handling wild birds or other wildlife, contact your local health centre as soon as possible and inform them that you have been in contact with wild birds or other wild animals.
What precautions should you take when harvesting eggs?
It is considered safe to handle bird eggs following precautions specified below.
HPAI virus can be found on the shell and potentially in the whites and yolk of eggs laid by infected birds.
Although there is no documented evidence of humans getting avian influenza from handling or consuming eggs, it is recommended that you:
- Wear gloves (e.g., vinyl, latex, nitrile, rubber) when handling eggs, if possible.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling eggs - use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) when you can't use soap and warm water.
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth, and do not eat, drink or smoke when handling eggs.
- Separate clean and dirty eggs during collection and avoid collecting cracked eggs and very dirty eggs covered with feces.
- Dry clean the eggs, rubbing dirt and debris off with a clean and dry paper towel, cloth, or brush. Washing or soaking eggs with water can affect the eggshell and allow germs to enter the egg.
- Always wash all equipment used with soap and water, and then disinfect using a bleach solution (25 ml or 5 tsp bleach to 2 L or 8 cups water).
If you become ill with influenza symptoms (e.g., cough, fever) within 10 days after handling wild bird eggs, contact your local health centre as soon as possible and inform them that you have been in contact with wild bird eggs.
How do you cook or prepare wild bird meat or harvested eggs?
It is considered safe to consume fully cooked game birds or eggs.
To reduce your risk of exposure to avian influenza and other pathogens, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- Cook game meat and eggs thoroughly. Freezing does not kill the virus!
Eggs
- Cook eggs to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
- Avoid consuming eggs raw or partially cooked (runny yolk).
- Avoid using raw eggs in foods that will not be cooked, baked or heat-treated in other ways.
Meat
- Cook meat pieces and cuts to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
- Cook whole birds to an internal temperature of 82°C (180°F).
- Ensure meat is fully cooked with no pink meat and until juices run clear.
- Follow general safe food handling practices:
- Keep raw meat, organs and eggs separate from other food products to avoid cross contamination.
- Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, organs and eggs.
- Eggs should be brushed off or dry cleaned with a paper towel and not washed with water.
- Thoroughly clean contaminated tools and work surfaces with hot, soapy water and then use a household disinfectant or a solution of 25 ml bleach and 2 L water (5 tsp bleach to 8 cups water).
Dead birds found and collected by community members for avian influenza testing should be stored separately from other community freezer items (e.g., harvested wild meat and eggs, other country foods).
What precautions should you take when travelling between bird nesting areas?
Avian influenza can spread between different bird colonies by transferring potentially contaminated material (bird droppings, dirt, fresh water) between nesting areas.
When travelling between separate bird communities (moving far distances between islands or on land):
- Brush off organic material (dirt, bird droppings, plant matter) from clothing and rubber boots.
- Change gloves and/or wash hands/use hand sanitizer in between bird nesting areas.
- While in a bird nesting area, try to minimize contact with freshwater ponds or wet areas, if possible.
- When preparing and having meals on islands, try to select a site farthest away from bird community activity.
References
- Government of Canada. Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
- Government of Canada. Wildlife and avian influenza – Handling guidelines to protect your health
- Government of Canada. Safe cooking temperatures
- Government of Canada. Pets and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- Government of Canada. Hand washing and staying healthy
- Government of Canada. Avian influenza A(H5N1): Symptoms and treatment
- Government of Canada. Avian Influenza Reference Issue Sheet for EPHOs and other health professionals. Developed by EPHD, ISC with contributions from ECCC, PHAC and CFIA. 2022.
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. Inter-agency Wild Bird Avian Influenza Survey Update - A report of samples collected and tested as of May 16, 2022
- The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Wild birds Dashboard Public Interface. Available at: National Avian Influenza - Wild Positives (arcgis.com)
- Government on Nunavut, Public Health Advisories of April 19, 2022 and May 30, 2022
- Nunatsiavut Government, Land and Natural Resources. Working Together to Monitor and Reduce Spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds. Public Notice of April 27, 2022
Page content updated in May 2023
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