Bird feeders are OK but keep wild birds from backyard chickens as avian flu spreads in Ontario: experts

As avian influenza spreads across Ontario, officials are urging people with backyard chickens to pay attention to potential signs of infection in their flocks.

They're also warning people not to feed wild birds by hand and to ensure bird feeders are kept clean to curb potential spread of the flu.

Shayan Sharif, a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, said bird flu is a growing problem in Ontario and across Canada.

"There seems to be more and more spread of this virus," Sharif, who researches chicken immunity, said in an interview.

"And I wouldn't be surprised if I saw more spread here in Ontario and perhaps in our neighbouring provinces, including in Quebec and Manitoba."

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says there have been 11 instances of avian flu being confirmed in Ontario poultry flocks between March 27 and April 10. That includes three backyard flocks in Prince Edward County, the Township of Selwyn and the Township of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

As well, a wild bird — a red-tailed hawk — was found to have the flu in the Waterloo area in mid-March.

In a technical briefing Monday afternoon, officials noted more than 260,000 birds have died of avian flu or have been "depopulated" as part of the national response to the virus. In Ontario, more than 84,000 birds died of flu or have been euthanized.

Mary Jane Ireland, Canada's chief veterinary officer, said it's been an "unprecedented year" for avian flu around the globe, with significant spread in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. She said it's the largest number of cases in multiple provinces in recent memory and the first time Canada has seen H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain.

When asked why avian flu has been so widespread this year, she said it's because there's a high number of wild, migratory birds with the virus.

"The environmental pressure in migratory birds is very high right now and I think that's the reason."

Avian flu isn't only a threat to large poultry farms, but it can impact backyard flocks, CFIA says. Bird owners are legally responsible to notify authorities if their animals become sick.

Ireland noted infected birds can shed the virus through saliva, nasal secretions and feces, and it can be spread through bird-to-bird contact or if the birds touch surfaces contaminated with the virus, including food dishes, a person's shoes or the tools used to clean out coops.

Ireland said steps people with backyard chickens can take to prevent wild birds from coming in contact with chickens include keeping food and water away from wild birds, and cleaning up spills so as to not attract unwanted birds.