Northwest Territories confirms 1 case of bird flu and 1 suspected case

A file photo of a raven flying over Norman Wells, N.W.T. A raven in Fort Smith has been found to have bird flu, according to the territory's Department of Environment and Climate Change.  (Submitted by Reza Behboudi - image credit)
A file photo of a raven flying over Norman Wells, N.W.T. A raven in Fort Smith has been found to have bird flu, according to the territory's Department of Environment and Climate Change. (Submitted by Reza Behboudi - image credit)

There is one confirmed case and one suspected case of bird flu in the Northwest Territories, according to the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

A raven in Fort Smith was found to have avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, the department announced Thursday.

The H151 strain is "highly infectious" among birds, but there is no sign of an outbreak, and risk to other birds remain low.

The transmission of bird flu to humans is rare and relatively mild, but chief public health officer (CPHO) Kami Kandola said people should still:

  • Avoid handling wild birds that are found dead or live birds acting strangely.

  • Report sightings of sick, injured or dead wildlife to an ECC regional office or email wildlifeveterinarian@gov.nu.ca.

  • Anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms who have been in contact with wild or domestic birds in the last 10 days should contact their local health centre.

There are currently no vaccines for bird flu, but there are antiviral drugs that patients can take when symptoms develop.

The department also said anyone who hunts wild birds should wear gloves and wash their hands frequently while dressing them.

Symptoms of avian influenza in wild birds include unusual behaviour, such as tremors or a lack of co-ordination, swelling around the head, neck or eyes, lack of energy or movement, difficult breathing, sneezing or coughing and diarrhea or sudden death.

Birds should also be processed in a well-ventilated area, equipment and surfaces should be disinfected and meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Farenheit or 74 degrees Celsius.

It's not the first time avian influenza has been found in the territory. There were three cases of bird flu in the N.W.T. in 2022, Kandola said.