Skip to main content Skip to sitemap
Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health
Jump to Sitemap Jump to Content

Media Release: Residents warned to keep pets away from wild birds to reduce transmission of avian flu

Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/ April 6, 2023 – Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is urging residents to ensure that pets do not come into contact with wild birds or other potentially sick animals after a domestic dog in the Oshawa region was found to have been infected with Avian Influenza (H5N1) from chewing on a wild goose. The dog developed clinical signs of avian flu and later died. Avian Influenza usually spreads among wild bird populations but can sometimes affect commercial poultry or other animals such as dogs when they come into contact with infected animals.

Can avian flu infect humans?

It’s rare for avian flu to spread to people, with most human cases resulting from close contact with infected poultry. To date, there have been no confirmed cases of humans being infected with the current Avian Influenza strain (H5N1) in Canada. However, because it is not known if or how animals infected with Avian Influenza H5N1 can transmit the virus to people, it’s important to ensure that children and household pets do not have contact with wild birds or other potentially sick animals.

“Although human cases of avian flu are rare, it is important to reduce the chance of transmission of this virus and protect our pets and domestic livestock by ensuring that they have no contact with wild birds or other potentially infected animals.” says Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH.

To reduce the risk from avian flu, HPEPH is advising the public to:

  • If contact with a dead bird or animal is unavoidable, wear gloves, place the bird/animal in a doubled plastic bag and tie it closed. Avoid contact with blood, body fluids and feces. You should then wash your hands with soap and warm water.
  • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any bird feeders, bird baths or any potentially contaminated areas.
  • Consider removing backyard bird feeders and bird baths.
    • If they can’t be fully removed, place them as far from family pets as possible and clean with a bleach and water solution (one-part bleach to nine-parts water) at least once every two weeks.
  • Keep family pets away from birds and fecal matter. Keep cats indoors and dogs on a leash to limit the potential for an encounter with an infected bird.
  • Do not attempt to rescue birds in distress, especially on any bodies of water.
  • If you become ill with influenza symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat) within 10 days after handling wild birds or other wildlife, see your health care provider. Inform your healthcare provider that you have been in contact with wildlife.

Additional information about avian flu is available through the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

-30-

About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

We invite community partners and residents to share this Media Release with their respective networks.

Media Contact:

Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca

Jessica Klein, Communications Specialist
jklein@hpeph.ca

Interested in receiving monthly updates about HPEPH programs and services?

Sign up for our e-newsletter

South East Health Unit

As of Jan. 1, 2025 Hastings Prince Edward Public Health; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will merge to form the South East Health Unit.

Partners and members of the public should continue to engage with their local public health offices as usual until otherwise directed.

Efforts are underway to develop branding for the South East Health Unit, which will take several months. In the meantime, you will see logos and other advertising material with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health branding. You may also see some documents using the legal name South East Health Unit.