In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, the province said samples from several birds in southwestern Manitoba near Waskada, along with a sample near Dauphin, were being tested for H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu found in other provinces. North Dakota and Minnesota. The province added that there will be an update in the coming days as soon as the test results are available. “The risk of avian influenza to human health is low. “There are no known cases of transmission of this strain of the virus from birds to humans in North America,” the province said in a statement, adding that it also posed no risk to food safety. Owners of small flocks of poultry and owners of commercial flocks of poultry are advised to take precautions. Manitoba Agriculture says small herd owners are encouraged to keep their birds indoors, if possible, during the current wild bird migration. “Small flocks are considered to be at high risk for HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) infection, as they often have access to the outdoors or free range areas. “This means that there is a high probability of contact with wild birds that may have been infected with the HPAI virus,” the province wrote in a statement. Commercial farmers are invited to monitor the information provided through their industry organizations and the Office of the Chief Veterinarian.
