Avian influenza in Canada - Information for northern communities

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 virus 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 found 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; 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 but increases with direct contact with infected animals, especially when field dressing (gutting), plucking or cleaning game.

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 water,
• clean and disinfect equipment, and
• wash or change clothing.

It is safe for people to eat fully cooked game bird 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 (environments where the avian influenza virus is heavily present).

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; also, do not feed your pets raw meat from wild birds.

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 water for at least 20 seconds (best option). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer/wipe containing at least 60% alcohol.

Avian influenza has also been found in wildlife other than wild birds, 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). Consider wearing a face mask and safety glasses or a face shield to protect your mouth and eyes from contact with contaminated dust, feathers and aerosols, especially when working indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
• 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 water for at least 20 seconds immediately after you have finished handling or cleaning harvested birds. If you do not have access to water, use hand sanitizer/wipe containing at least 60% alcohol.
• After you are done, thoroughly wash tools and work surfaces with soapy water, and then sanitize using a household disinfectant or bleach solution (45 ml or 3 tbsp household bleach diluted in 2 L or 8 cups of water), allowing it to remain on the tools, equipment or surfaces for at least 10 minutes.
• 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 (dual infection) or reduce severity of seasonal flu symptoms. Mixing of influenza viruses could lead to the development of new influenza viruses that could be harmful to both animals and people.

Human vaccines against avian influenza have now been developed and are available in Canada to protect individuals most at risk. Plans for vaccine use and delivery are developed and administered locally by provinces and territories.

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.
• Always wash your hands before and after handling eggs - use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) when you can't use soap and water.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth, and do not eat, drink or smoke when handling eggs (consider wearing a face mask and safety glasses or a face shield to further protect your mouth and eyes).
• 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 sanitize using a household disinfectant or bleach solution (45 ml or 3 tbsp of household bleach diluted in 2 L or 8 cups of water), allowing it to remain on the equipment used for at least 10 minutes.

How do you cook or prepare wild bird meat or harvested eggs?

It is considered safe to consume fully cooked game birds or eggs. Avian influenza virus may be present in dried meat.

To reduce your risk of exposure to avian influenza and other pathogens, it is important to follow these recommendations:

1. 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.

   It is best to check cooking temperatures with a digital food thermometer. Clean the thermometer after each use.

2. 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 and sanitize contaminated tools and work surfaces with hot, soapy water and then use a household disinfectant or a solution of 3 tbsp (45 ml) of household bleach diluted in 2 L of water (8 cups), allowing it to remain on the tools, equipment or surfaces for at least 10 minutes.

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

1. Government of Canada. Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
2. Government of Canada. Wildlife and avian influenza – Handling guidelines to protect your health
3. Government of Canada. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and food safety..
4. Government of Canada. Pets and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
5. Government of Canada. Avian influenza A(H5N1): Symptoms and treatment
6. Government of Canada. Rapid response: Preliminary guidance on human vaccination against avian influenza in a non-pandemic context as of December 2024.
7. 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.
8. Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. Inter-agency Wild Bird Avian Influenza Survey Update
9. The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - Wild birds Dashboard Public Interface. Available at: National Avian Influenza - Wild Positives (arcgis.com)
10. Government on Nunavut, Public Health Advisories of April 19, 2022 and May 30, 2022
11. 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