January 11, 2024

Bird flu detected at Quebec, Canada poultry farm

A case of bird flu has been identified at a commercial poultry farm in western Quebec, Canada, leading to about 30 individuals off work as the operation undergoes sterilisation procedures, CBC News reported.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported the bird flu case on January 3, 2024, marking the first instance in the Outaouais region since the resurgence of bird flu across Canada in 2022, according to CFIA records.

The affected poultry farm, situated around 80 km northeast of downtown Ottawa, is one of only four premises in Quebec currently impacted by the flu. The majority of the 57 outbreaks are concentrated in British Columbia, with no reported infections in Ontario.

Benoit Lauzon, the warden of the regional municipality of Papineau encompassing Saint-André-Avellin, expressed concern about nearby poultry operations, including hobby farms. He called for the need for accurate information from local health authorities to guide individuals on safeguarding animals and themselves.

While avian flu is rarely transmitted from birds to humans, the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food assured that when transmission occurs, it typically affects individuals in close contact with poultry, such as those working on farms, in slaughterhouses, or live poultry markets.

-      CBC News