Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is urging residents to guard themselves, their pets and home birds from avian influenza after deceased Canadian geese in Kingston examined constructive for the virus.
Avian Influenza, also called hen flu, normally spreads amongst wild hen populations, however can generally have an effect on industrial poultry or different animals corresponding to dogs after they come into contact with contaminated animals.
On uncommon events it could unfold to folks.
Most human instances end result from shut contact with contaminated poultry.
To date, there have been no confirmed instances of people being contaminated with the present pressure, H5N1 in Canada however residents are inspired to make sure that themselves, kids and family pets don’t have contact with wild birds or different probably sick animals.
To cut back the chance from avian flu, HPEPH is advising the general public to:
- Avoid direct contact with wild birds and different wild animals.
- Observe them solely from a distance.
- Contact your native municipality and the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative on-line or by calling 1-800-567-2033 to report sick or lifeless birds/animals.
- If contact with a lifeless hen or animal is unavoidable, put on gloves, place the hen/animal in a doubled plastic bag and tie it closed. Avoid contact with blood, physique fluids and feces. You ought to then wash your arms with cleaning soap and heat water.
- Wash arms completely with cleaning soap and water after touching any hen feeders, hen baths or any probably contaminated areas.
- Consider eradicating yard hen feeders and hen baths.
- If they will’t be totally eliminated, place them as removed from household pets as potential and clear with a bleach and water answer (one-part bleach to nine-parts water) no less than as soon as each two weeks.
- Keep household pets away from birds and fecal matter. Keep cats indoors and dogs on a leash to restrict the potential for an encounter with an contaminated hen.
- Do not try to rescue birds in misery, particularly on any our bodies of water.
- If you grow to be sick with influenza symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat) inside 10 days after dealing with wild birds or different wildlife, see your well being care supplier. Inform your healthcare supplier that you’ve been in touch with wildlife.
- As one other layer of safety, HPEPH recommends that every one residents get their annual flu shot. Although seasonal influenza vaccine doesn’t forestall an infection with avian flu viruses, it could cut back the chance of getting sick with human and avian flu viruses on the similar time.
Additional details about avian flu is available by means of the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
