Avian flu confirmed at commercial poultry site on Île d'Orléans, Quebec

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (ACIA) confirmed a case of avian flu at a commercial poultry site on Île d'Orléans, Quebec, La Presse reports. The case was detected on November 5, according to the ACIA website. The agency has established a primary control zone in the area around the confirmed case. In that zone, permits are required to move birds, their products and their byproducts to minimize the risk of disease spread. The designated zone is highly pathogenic and includes a poultry farm where all kinds of birds and poultry are raised, according to La Presse's research. Avian flu is a disease caused by an influenza virus, transmissible through bird secretions and excrement. It is a reportable disease to Quebec's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), meaning poultry producers must report it when they detect or suspect it on their farm. The Quebec government says the disease can be devastating for agricultural businesses because it can cause the death of many birds. There is no recognized treatment for the disease. Infected poultry flocks are quarantined and humanely culled. Infected birds can spread the virus for a long period even without showing signs of disease, the government adds. Transmission to humans is possible but rare. In British Columbia, the ACIA placed a commercial operation in Chilliwack under quarantine after avian flu was confirmed on Friday, Radio-Canada reports. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food is working with the ACIA and the provincial poultry industry on enhanced prevention and preparedness measures. The ministry informed producers within a 10-kilometre radius of the positive results. The ACIA leads the investigation and response, with provincial support. The first case of avian flu of the season was confirmed in Ontario the previous week, and the first case in Quebec was detected on Thursday, Radio-Canada reports. British Columbia poultry farms have been the hardest hit by avian flu, with more than 10 million birds dead or culled since 2021, out of 18 million across the country. According to the federal agency, the risk of humans being infected with the H5 strain of avian flu is low. A teenager was infected in 2024, spent several weeks in hospital, and recovered.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.