The Eastern Ontario Health Department (EOHU) has informed the public that a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been detected in the region. Avian influenza (AI) is a disease caused by a virus that mainly infects poultry and wild birds such as geese, ducks and coastal birds. H5N1 is a strain that kills both wild birds and commercial poultry.
“Currently, the risk of human transmission is low because the current strain of the virus is reported to be lower than normal concerns about its spread to humans,” said Dr. Paul Rumeliotis, a health care professional. “EOHU is working closely with provincial and federal partners, including the Ontario Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to monitor the situation.
Although the exact route of transmission from birds to humans is unknown, most cases of avian influenza in humans in the past have been associated with direct contact with live or dead infected poultry or their feces.
You are unlikely to catch avian influenza from eating undercooked eggs or poultry, but food safety measures should always be taken when handling poultry and egg products. Remember to wash your hands before and after handling food, keep products separate to prevent cross-contamination, clean and disinfect all surfaces, and cook poultry products completely.
Symptoms of H5N1 in humans can range from very mild to severe. The most common symptoms are the following:
- Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or stuffy nose
- Muscle and / or body pain, headache, fatigue or tiredness
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or seizures. Diarrhea is more common with avian influenza than with human influenza viruses.
If you have been around birds in the last 14 days (especially sick or dead birds) and have not worn any personal protective equipment, it is important to tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Specific tests are available to detect avian influenza in humans. If you do not have access to a doctor, please call Telehealth Ontario on 1 866 797-0000.
In general, members of the public should avoid handling live or dead wild birds. If you cannot avoid contact with wild birds, wear gloves or use a double plastic bag and avoid contact with blood, body fluids and faeces. Then you need to wash your hands with soap and warm water. The Ontario Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has information on safety principles for small herd owners.
If you find a sick or dead wild bird in your backyard or park, please call the Canadian Wildlife Cooperative Health Center at 1 800 673-4781 to report the finding. If you notice that a large number of waterfowl or poultry in your area are dying, please inform the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120.
For more information on avian influenza and how to prevent it from spreading to birds and humans, visit EOHU.ca/H5N1.
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