Health officials in eastern Ontario have confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Avian Influenza (AI) is a disease caused by a virus that mainly infects domestic poultry and wild birds such as geese, ducks and land birds and H5N1 is a strain that kills both wild birds and commercial poultry. Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, a physician in charge of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), says the risk of transmission to humans remains low. “The current strain of the virus has been recorded as lower than the normal concern for spreading to humans,” says Dr. Roumeliotis. “EOHU works 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.” The health unit says that while the exact mode of transmission from birds to humans is unknown, most human avian influenza cases have been linked to direct contact with live or dead infected birds or their feces – and that its transmission through of eating uncooked eggs or poultry is unlikely. Symptoms of H5N1 in humans can range from very mild to severe, with the following being the most common:
Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or stuffy nose Muscle and / or body aches, headaches, 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 when infected with avian influenza by human influenza viruses.
If you have been around birds for the past 14 days – particularly sick or dead birds – and have not worn personal protective equipment, it is recommended that you tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. You can also call Telehealth Ontario at 1 866 797-0000.
Residents are required to contact the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Center at 1 800 673-4781 to report cases of sick or dead wild birds. If you notice large numbers of waterfowl or poultry dying in your area, we advise you to call the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120.
