Overview

Avian flu is a contagious viral infection that mainly affects birds but can sometimes infect mammals, and in rare cases, humans.

Avian flu season takes place in the spring and fall when birds migrate. The H5N1 strain, circulating in Ontario since 2022, can cause disease in:

  • wild birds
  • commercial poultry
  • domestic mammals, including some pets and livestock

Although most strains do not easily cross from birds to humans, there is still a low risk of people getting avian flu.

Symptoms

Avian flu is caused by a different virus that causes the seasonal flu, but some of the symptoms may be similar. Symptoms can range from very mild to severe, including:

  • fever
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • muscle or body aches
  • headaches
  • fatigue or tiredness
  • conjunctivitis (red eyes)
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Less common symptoms are:

  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • seizures

If you have symptoms or have been exposed to an infected bird or mammal, you can be tested through Public Health Ontario.

It is important to tell your health care provider or contact Health811 if you have any of these symptoms or if you have been around sick or dead birds or animals in the past 10 days which were suspected or confirmed to have the virus.

Protect yourself

While the risk of catching avian flu is low, you should avoid handling live or dead wild birds.  If contact is unavoidable, always:

  • wear gloves or use a doubled plastic bag and avoid contact with blood, bodily fluids and feces
  • wash your hands after with soap and warm water

Food safety

Getting avian flu from eating uncooked or undercooked eggs or poultry is unlikely. When handling food, you should follow proper safe food handling practices such as:

  • wearing dish gloves or latex gloves when handling or cleaning game (wash gloves, hands, and clothing with soap and warm water immediately after you have finished)
  • keeping poultry and egg products separate from other food products to avoid cross contamination
  • cooking pieces and cuts of game meat to an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F)
  • cooking whole birds to an internal temperature of 82°C (180°F)
  • not feeding uncooked or undercooked poultry or game bird meat to cats or dogs
  • not handling or eating sick birds or birds that have died from unknown causes
  • avoiding direct contact with blood, feces, and respiratory secretions of all wild birds
  • not eating, drinking, or smoking while cleaning game
  • working outside whenever possible
  • wearing a medical mask, preferably an N95 or KN95, when cleaning game
  • thoroughly cleaning contaminated tools and work surfaces with hot, soapy water and then disinfecting the area using a household disinfectant
  • immediately removing and washing clothing that may be contaminated with blood, feces or respiratory secretions

Consumption of undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk products from infected animals is not recommended.

International travel

As an important measure before you travel outside of Ontario or Canada, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website to determine if there are any active advisories for the region to which you are travelling.

While traveling there are some important precautions you should take to help safeguard your health, including:

  • avoiding visits to poultry farms or bird markets
  • not eating undercooked eggs, meat, or unpasteurized milk products
  • practicing proper hand hygiene through hand washing or bringing along an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

If you have a fever and respiratory illness within 10 days after returning from a region affected by avian flu, contact your health care provider, or Health 811, immediately.