Bird flu in Ottawa, Kingston and western Ontario has farmers, wildlife watchers on alert

Farmers and wildlife watchers are on guard after some poultry flocks and wild birdsincluding a Canada goose in Ottawa and a redhead duck in Kingston, Ont.recentlytested positive for a deadly strain of bird flu.

Canada has seen a limited number of outbreaks ofthe highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu so far this year, said Dr. Shayan Sharif, aprofessor and associate dean withthe 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 toerratic behaviour.

Goose on Rideau River shore tests positive

Last week, a volunteer with bird rescue groupSafe Wings Ottawa confirmed a bystander's report of a disoriented goose by the Rideau River shore nearBillings Bridge.

"Considering that it was off balance,had neurological symptoms we thought it would be most prudent to call the Canadian Wildlife Service," saidAnouk Hoedeman, Safe Wings' co-founder and co-ordinator.

The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative confirmed the goose was infected with theH5N1 strain.

Aduck in Kingston,a red-tailedhawk from New Hamburg, Ont.,and ared-breasted merganser from Point Pelee National Parkhave also tested positive for the strain in the last two weeks.

While bird flu cases are foundevery year, they areusually of the low-pathogenic sortunlike the strain currently striking Canada and other parts of the globe, said a wildlife pathologist for the co-operative's Ontario office.

"This one is actually causing severe illness and death of wild birds in large numbers, which we haven't seen previously," Brian Stevens said.

There have been major outbreaks and "die-offs"in Europe and Africa and recent reports of die-offs of wild birds as a direct result of thevirus in North America,Stevens continued.

"Any time we have a highly pathogenic strain, there is always that concern that it could jump into both commercial or backyard flocks of poultry."

Some quarantines

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has already placed threeOntario commercial turkey farms and two backyard flocks in the province, including one north of Peterborough, Ont., under quarantine after animals at each site became infected with the strain.

The agency which has called this avian flu "a significant national concern as birds migrate to Canada" is keeping an updated list of affected commercial and backyard sites here.

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Farmers in the province are "absolutely concerned" though not yet alarmed about the current caseload, saidLisa Bishop, director of brand and communications at Chicken Farms of Canada.

"When you start seeing it land in a commercial operation, that means that it's time to sort of re-up or redouble your biosecurity efforts," she said, citing measures like enhanced sanitization.

Farms with infected flocks generallysee thoseanimals culled, she added.

"It's very stressful," Bishop said of the impact on farmers, who fear a worst-case scenario like 2004when British Columbia's poultry industry was devastated by bird flu.

Worry about injured birds left behind

Safe Wings is concerned the current state of high alertness mightaffectlocal wildlife care efforts,Hoedeman said.

As of March 31, the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre which takes in injured birds is temporarily not accepting injured or sick aquatic birdsor dead birds of any kinddue to the cases ofH5N1, according to its website. People are instead encouraged to call the cooperative.

"We don't want the public to handle them themselves,"Hoedemansaid. "But you also don't want to leave birds that are clearly injured and suffering."

Hoedemansaid she's hopefulthe City of Ottawa or the Ottawa Humane Society might be able to help in some situations.

If you encounter a sick or dead wild bird,please contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative by phone (866-673-4781) or report online athttps://cwhc.wildlifesubmissions.org