Avian Influenza

Check with your local municipality for approved methods of disposing of dead birds. If your municipality allows, residents can bury or double bag dead birds and place in garbage for your regular garbage pick-up. Large numbers of dead wild birds should be managed as instructed by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. 

Report sick or dead wild birds on the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative online reporting tool.

When handling dead birds:

• Wear gloves at all times when handling wild bird carcasses and avoid contact with blood, body fluids and feces.
• Use a small shovel to move the bird if possible, even while wearing gloves and place dead bird in a double bag.
• Place the bag carefully in a covered garbage container where it will be out of reach of pets, curious children or scavengers.
• Clean and disinfect any tools used in a solution of at least one part bleach to nine parts water.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soapy, warm water or use hand sanitizer, even if gloves are worn.

Report to your local municipality for pick-up:

• Ajax
• Brock
• Clarington
• Oshawa
• Pickering
• Scugog
• Uxbridge
• Whitby

• Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative online reporting tool.
• Phone: 1-866-673-4781.

• Keep your pets safe when outdoors by ensuring they stay away from sick or dead birds.
• Keep your cats indoors and dogs on a leash when out for a walk.
• Do not feed pets any raw meat from wild birds or poultry.
• Consult with your veterinarian if your pet is sick or for more information on avian influenza in pets.

More information on protecting your pets.

• Feeders should be removed from areas that are open to poultry and other domestic animals.
• If you care for poultry, prevent and/or eliminate contact between wild birds and poultry (e.g., include the removal of exterior/outdoor sources of food, water, and shelter that attract wild birds).
• Backyard bird feeders and baths should be cleaned regularly, at least every two weeks, using a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water. Ensure that they are well rinsed and dried before re-use.
• If sick birds are observed near bird feeders, the feeders should be removed and the sick birds reported to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

• Limit access of domestic birds to the outdoors and ponds or bodies of water used by wild birds.
• Owners must minimize contact between wild birds and their small flocks.

• According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), there is no evidence to suggest that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit avian flu to humans.
• Practice safe food handling and cooking practices for poultry and poultry products (eggs).

Wild bird surveillance is conducted through a collaboration between:

• CFIA (HPAI in wildlife dashboard)
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC)

• The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are the lead agencies for tracing cases in birds on farms or in other facilities that process poultry.
• Durham Region Health Department works with other public health units to follow any farm/agricultural workers who may have been exposed to avian influenza. There have been no human cases in Durham Region.

Always stay away from wild animals. Reduce your risk by:

• Not approaching sick or dead animals. If on municipal property, contact your municipality to report.
• Keeping your pets on a leash and away from wildlife.
• Not feeding wildlife from your hands.
• Where possible, wash your hands with soap and warm running water; otherwise use moist hand wipes if your hands become soiled. Follow up with hand sanitizer.
• Avoid disturbing and coming into contact with animal droppings.

• The risk to acquire avian influenza in humans remains very low.
• Working with wildlife and within their habitat may increase your exposure to avian influenza. Speak with your employer to discuss how you can reduce your risk.

Additional occupational resources:

• Ministry of Health recommendations for personal protective equipment for workers and employers working with or around poultry, wild birds, and other susceptible animal species.
• Ministry of Health frequently asked questions about the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza.
• I work with birds. How can I protect myself?
• Information for people who work with wild birds or other susceptible wildlife.