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kingston Bird flu in Ottawa, Kingston and western Ontario has farmers, wildlife watchers on alert Ontario poultry operators 'absolutely concerned,' Chicken Farmers of Canada says Farmers and wildlife watchers are on guard after some poultry flocks and wild birds — including a Canada goose in Ottawa and a redhead duck in Kingston, Ont. — recently tested positive for a deadly strain of bird flu. Canada has seen a limited number of outbreaks of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu so far this year, said Dr. Shayan Sharif, a professor and associate dean with the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. "We have to make sure that the virus is contained very effectively and very successfully at this point in time," he said. The virus rarely infects humans. However, it can make birds very sick, causing anything from coughing and sneezing to erratic behaviour. Goose on Rideau River shore tests positive Last week, a volunteer with bird rescue group Safe Wings Ottawa confirmed a bystander's report of a disoriented goose by the Rideau River shore near Billings Bridge. "Considering that it was off balance, had neurological symptoms … we thought it would be most prudent to call the Canadian Wildlife Service," said Anouk Hoedeman, Safe Wings' co-founder and co-ordinator. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative confirmed the goose was infected with the H5N1 strain.

wellington Avian influenza discovered in two flocks in Wellington County H5N1 outbreaks confirmed in flock of turkeys in Guelph/Eramosa, in ducks in Centre Wellington WELLINGTON COUNTY – Poultry producers are contending with a different sort of viral outbreak following several positive cases of avian influenza discovered in Wellington County poultry flocks. A highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype has, as of April 4, been confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in six southwestern Ontario flocks, of which two are in the county. Also known as “bird flu,” the virus has been around for over a century, infecting the respiratory tracts of many types of birds, both domesticated and wild. Subtypes are separated into two categories: low and high pathogenicity, depending on how sick birds get. Although the virus does not present a food safety risk, the CFIA pays particular attention to “H5” subtypes because they mutate from low to high pathogenicity after infecting domestic birds, and cause high mortality. It’s also the subtype most responsible for causing severe illness and death in people, with over half of human infections resulting in death, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus transmits to humans via the eyes, nose, mouth and can be inhaled through aerosols, although it’s uncommon.