On Sunday, the Food Inspection Agency of Canada (CFIA) confirmed the detection of the H5N1 strain in a poultry flock in Les Sources, a municipality in the Estrie district of Quebec.
Avian flu was also reported in Brome-Missisquoi, Hait-Saint-Francois and Val-Saint-Francois last week.
“Infected sites have been quarantined,” the CFIA website said. “The CFIA has introduced traffic control measures and is recommending to other farms in the area to increase biosecurity.”
By April 12, the highly contagious strain had only been found in wild geese in Quebec, but had apparently spread to domesticated populations.
H5N1 can cause serious damage to poultry farms, leading to high mortality rates.
Its risks are much less serious for humans, although experts advise anyone who is infected to seek immediate medical attention.
“There are things you can do to help, including early use of antiviral drugs and support in an intensive care unit,” explains McGill’s infectious disease specialist Dr. Raymond Tellier.
The Quebec Ministry of Wildlife has warned the public not to handle live or dead wild birds to prevent them from spreading.
The virus has been circulating in Europe since 2020 and in Canada since December 2021.