Avian influenza A(H5N1): Handling potentially infected animals

Current situation

Outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) continue to occur in Canada and globally. The risk of avian influenza infection to most people in Canada remains low.

• Latest bird flu situation
• Avian influenza A(H5N1): Canada's response

Avian influenza A(H5N1) is also known as bird flu or avian flu. It's a contagious viral infection that mainly affects birds, but can sometimes infect other animals and humans.

On this page

• Activities that increase your risk of exposure
• If you see a sick or dead animal
• Handling animals that might be infected
• How to clean your work area
• Keeping your animals safe

Activities that increase your risk of exposure

You're at higher risk of being exposed to avian influenza if you work:

• with or handle wildlife or domestic animals (like farmed animals or pets)
• in highly contaminated environments

Some examples of activities that may increase your risk of exposure include:

• handling or working with farmed birds, cattle or other domestic animals and their products (including raw milk, feces, bedding or litter)
• culling poultry or other animals (including catching, euthanizing, bagging, transporting or disposing of dead animals)
• working in high-risk environments (like farms, processing plants, slaughterhouses and live bird or animal markets)
• owning or working on small farms or with backyard flocks
• handling wild birds or other wildlife including:
• researching, rescuing or rehabilitating (including bird banding and collecting samples)
• hunting and trapping (including field dressing, skinning or plucking)
• processing carcasses (like butchering or cleaning)
• breeding and raising birds
• handling or consuming undercooked or raw meat, eggs and organs or raw milk

Learn more:

• Avian influenza A(H5N1): Prevention and risks
• Producers and livestock sector: Avian influenza
• Avian biosecurity: Protect poultry, prevent disease
• Owners of small flocks, birds and pets: Avian influenza
• Occupations that may have workplace exposures to avian influenza

If you see a sick or dead animal

If you see a sick or dead animal that may have A(H5N1):

• don't touch it
  • if you must have contact, wear:
    • gloves
    • a well-fitted respirator or mask
• report it to the appropriate animal health authority, depending on if it's a wild or domestic animal
  • for domestic birds and mammals, contact:
    • your veterinarian or provincial or territorial animal health authority and
    • the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • for wild birds and other wildlife, contact:
    • your regional avian influenza hotline or
    • the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
• for marine mammals, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada

If you had contact with an animal that might have A(H5N1):

• contact your health care provider or your local public health authority immediately for an assessment and recommendations
• use personal protective measures to prevent spreading A(H5N1) to others
• monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days after your last exposure to the animal

Learn more:

• Masking: Types of masks
• Avian influenza A(H5N1): If you become ill
• Avian influenza A(H5N1): Prevention and risks
• Avian influenza A (H5N1): Symptoms and treatment
• Respiratory infectious diseases: What personal protective measures to use

Handling animals that might be infected

To reduce your risk when handling animals that might be infected:

• avoid eating, drinking, smoking and touching your eyes or face when you're in contact with animals, their environments or animal products
• always work in a well-ventilated environment
  • if working outdoors, try to stay upwind to avoid inhaling feathers, dust or other particles in the air
• avoid direct contact with blood and other body fluids (including respiratory secretions), feces, feathers and raw milk
• wear a mask or well-fitted respirator (like an N95)
• wear eye protection, like goggles, a face shield or safety glasses
• wear nitrile, latex or rubber gloves
• wear heavy gloves when handling animals that could break your skin with their beaks, teeth or claws
• clean your hands frequently, especially:
  • before putting on and after taking off personal protective equipment, like masks, gloves or eye protection
  • after being in contact with animals, their environments or animal products
• keep young children and pets away from materials and areas that could be contaminated
• get vaccinated
  • an annual flu vaccine can help reduce the risks of having both seasonal flu and A(H5N1) at the same time
  • vaccines against avian influenza may be available for people at highest risk of exposure

Depending on your job, you may need other preventive measures. Follow any health and safety guidelines from your employer or occupational health and safety provider.

Learn more:

• Masking: Types of masks
• Working with or near wildlife
• Zoonotic diseases risk checklist (PDF)
• Avian influenza A(H5N1): Prevention and risks
• How to protect yourself from avian influenza A(H5N1) at work
• Staying healthy when working with or near wildlife (infographic)
• Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases

How to clean your work area

When cleaning an area that may be contaminated with avian influenza, use appropriate personal protective equipment, such as:

• a mask or respirator
• eye protection
• gloves

Also follow these recommendations to reduce your risk.

• Mist dry areas with low pressure water to prevent feces, dust and feathers from being stirred up in the air.
• Thoroughly clean all tools, equipment and work surfaces (including those in vehicles) with soap and water including:
  • bird bags
  • banding tools
  • sampling tools
  • animal restraints, holding and transportation devices
• After cleaning, disinfect tools, equipment and surfaces using an approved disinfectant.
  • You can use 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of household bleach diluted in 2L of water.
    • Allow it to remain on the tools, equipment or surfaces for at least 10 minutes.

After you have cleaned the area:

• throw away all potentially contaminated disposable materials, including gloves, in an appropriate manner (for example, sealed in plastic bags)
• remove and wash clothing and footwear that may be contaminated with blood, feces, raw milk or respiratory secretions
• wash your hands with soap and water
  • if soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol

Learn more:

• Use household chemicals safely
• Surface disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens
• Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases

Keeping your animals safe

If you work with animals and also have birds or other animals at home, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of your animals being infected with A(H5N1).

• Use separate clothing, equipment and footwear at work and at home.
• Practise proper hand hygiene, especially after:
  • touching animals or animal products (like feed, eggs, raw milk, feathers or feces)
  • being in an area where animals are kept or were processed
• Prevent contact between your animals and wildlife by keeping:
  • poultry and other livestock in a secure enclosure away from wild birds and other wildlife
  • dogs and cats, including hunting dogs, away from sick or dead wildlife and areas contaminated with bird feces
• Avoid feeding cats and dogs raw or undercooked meat, eggs and organs, or raw milk.

Learn more:

• Owners of small flocks, birds and pets: Avian influenza
• Clean your hands to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases
• Animals susceptible to A(H5N1) highly pathogenic avian influenza: Risks for your pets