What to know about bird flu, poultry and dairy farms

TORONTO – People have been hearing a lot about H5N1 bird flu, or the highly pathogenic bird flu, ever since a BC teenager became the first person in Canada to contract the virus and was hospitalized.

It is not yet known how the teenager became infected, but Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam said Wednesday that genomic sequencing showed the teenager had an H5N1 strain similar to the strains found in outbreaks at poultry farms in British Columbia.

According to a recent report on the BC government’s website, more than 20 locations with infected poultry have been identified in the province since the beginning of October.

The H5N1 strain the teenager had was not the same genotype found in people infected from dairy cattle in the United States, Tam said in an interview.

While there have been multiple bird flu outbreaks on dairy farms in many provinces, the virus has not been detected on dairy farms anywhere in Canada.

How do we know that dairy cattle in Canada are not infected with H5N1?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tests raw milk arriving at processing plants in each province for the presence of bird flu virus.

It also tests pasteurized retail milk samples.

Like wastewater testing, milk testing for viruses such as Covid-19 and seasonal flu is intended to provide an “early warning” signal if H5N1 reaches dairy farms in Canada, Tam said.

If H5N1 gets into milk, is it still safe to drink?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says yes, as long as the milk is pasteurized.

“In Canada, milk must be pasteurized before sale. The pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza), ensuring that milk and dairy products are safe to drink and eat,” the CFIA website states. he says.

Is it safe to eat poultry, eggs and beef?

Yes, as long as it is cooked thoroughly.

Where are the infected poultry farms in Canada?

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website, there were 28 infected poultry locations as of Nov. 13, including 28 in British Columbia, two in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan.

Shayan Sharif, a professor of pathobiology at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, said he believes H5N1 will reach poultry farms in other provinces.

“Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong… but I think it will probably come eastward in the not too distant future,” he told The Canadian Press.

What do you do when an H5N1 infection occurs on a farm?

Farmers are required to notify the CFIA if they suspect their birds or animals have bird flu.

Sharif said all poultry on farms that tested positive for H5N1 should be killed. But he said cattle did not have to be killed.

The virus can spread through direct contact with infected animals, as well as through contaminated barns and other environments.

The sheriff said one of the most important ways to stop the spread of bird flu among farms is “biosecurity.”

This means workers must wear personal protective equipment and change clothes when entering and leaving a farm where bird flu has been detected.

This also means no sharing of equipment between farms and washing and disinfecting trucks delivering supplies and feed, he said.

Sharif said he supports offering bird flu vaccines to agricultural workers, a move adopted by Finland.

Health Canada has authorized three flu vaccines that can be used to protect against H5N1 bird flu.

Those vaccines are not currently available here, but Tam said public health officials are “very interested” in hearing from Finland and are actively exploring the potential use of H5N1 vaccines while monitoring bird flu activity in Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.

The Canadian Press’s health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

Nicole Ireland, Canadian Press