Avian flu found in Niagara region Friday
Niagara Region Public Health announced Friday afternoon it is investigating a confirmed report of H5N1 avian influenza “in a mixed flock of birds including chicken, geese and ducks.”
“Only those working on the farm with the birds are at any risk, and Public Health has followed up with each one of them individually,” Dr. Joanne Kearon, Resident Physician with Niagara Region Public Health, said in a statement.
“We are working with our provincial and federal partners to contain the infection so that it doesn’t spread to any other birds, and in turn doesn’t pose a risk to anyone else.”
The region’s health agency says it is working with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to keep an eye on the situation.
Avian influenza, commonly known as “bird” flu, mainly affects wild birds and other domestic poultry like shore birds, ducks, and geese. It is uncommon for the virus to spread between birds and humans, but Niagara Region Public Health says it has happened before.
How it spreads to people is not known, but the health agency notes human cases of avian influenza have been traced to those with direct contact with infected poultry – both live and dead – or their feces.
Niagara Region Public Health recommends bird owners whose birds spend time outdoors exercise precautions like handwashing and wearing personal protective equipment.
Those with backyard chickens are also advised against bringing them indoors, “kissing and snuggling live poultry,” and are asked to sanitize their equipment frequently.
Ontarians can report sick or dead birds to the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 866-673-4781.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.