By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
NANTICOKE—Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge has announced it has identified three cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at their bio-security checkpoint in early April.
HPAI is a highly contagious disease that is deadly to birds. A video posted to Hobbitstee’s social media account on April 10 showcased the effects the virus had on two eagles infected with it. Displaying clear signs of neurological damage, both birds are shown uncontrollably shaking their heads.
“We have had three birds test positive. All three have been euthanized on arrival and never entered our facility beyond the bio-security check point,” said Chantal Thejin, Founder of Hobbitstee.
Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit acknowledged the local cases in a release on April 22, nothing that The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed H5N1 Avian Influenza in Ontario poultry as well. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has issued a Minister’s Order prohibiting events where the comingling of birds would occur in an effort to reduce the transmission of the virus amongst domestic birds in Ontario. This order is effective until May 9, 2022, unless extended.
Thejin touched on the protection system currently in place to prevent the spread of the flu to other animals at Hobbitstee: “We have put a variety of bio-security measures in place following the recommendations issued by Canadian Wildlife Services. We are also working with various SPCAs, humane societies, and animal control agencies screening birds and preventing suspected cases from coming here to keep the birds we have in care safe.”
With evidence of a highly contagious avian flu in the community, we asked Thejin how concerned residents in Haldimand should be about the risks associated with it.
“Avian Influenza isn’t easily transmitted to people, but it is certainly possible and there are documented cases. Not touching or having close contact with sick (wild) birds is the best way to prevent contracting it.”
According to a list on Hobbitstee’s website, symptoms a bird infected with HPAI might display include:
- Diarrhoea
- Regurgitation
- Sneezing
- Open sores
- Discharge from mouth, nose, or ears
- Extensive swelling and/or purple discolouration of the tissue of the head and/or around eyes
- Falling over
- Head Tilt
- Head/neck twisting
- Circling
- Paralysis
- Unable to stand or flap wings
Thejin said that avoiding contact is the safest way to manage HPAI: “If people stay away from sick or dead (wild) birds and call for help rather than handling the birds, the risk for humans is manageable.”
She said that, instead, the biggest risk presented by the disease is toward domestic poultry: “There isn’t a lot of measures we can take to prevent this disease from spreading among wild birds, but we do need to all work together to help protect domestic poultry flocks.”
She continued, “People with backyard chickens, ducks, etc. need to keep their animals contained and prevent them from having contact with wild birds as much as possible. Those people need to get a designated pair of shoes or boots that they don’t wear off their property, as well as perhaps a pair of coveralls or designated clothing they use when they care for their chickens.”
HNHU added, “Ontario poultry is safe to eat. Avian influenza is not a threat to food safety. You should always use proper cooking times, temperatures, and handling techniques with poultry, meat, and eggs.”
As a wildlife rehab facility, Hobbitstee is often contacted by community members who have come across a sick or injured bird, however the group urges caution in such scenarios.
According to their website, procedures as dictated by Canadian Wildlife Services indicate that one case of avian influenza could potentially lead to a situation where every bird, and possibly every animal, on site at the refuge would face being euthanized.
HNHU recommended that anyone who finds sick or dead wild birds should report it to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at by phone at 1-800-567-2033 or online at cwhc-rcsf.ca/report_and_submit.php.
“If people have poultry and chickens get sick or die for an unexplained reason, they need to contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, as well as OMAFRA,” said Theijn. HNHU added that OMAFRA has online resources for preventing and detecting disease in small flocks.
In cases where someone finds a bird that is injured, but not displaying symptoms, they can still bring that bird out to Hobbitstee, but that bird will be subject to an HPAI rapid test prior to being brought in.
For more information on HPAI, visit hobbitstee.com or search online for Inspection Canada’s comprehensive report on the disease.
