Huron Perth Public Health is reporting a case of avian influenza in its jurisdiction.
Health officials say highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been identified in live poultry delivered by an independent third party to a commercial processing plant in Perth County.
According to health officials, “HPAI is caused by different virus strains than those that cause seasonal influenza (“the flu”) in humans. Also, the HPAI H5N1 virus does not easily cross from birds to humans.”
A news releases says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), along with the health unit, the Ministry of Health, and Public Health Ontario are working together with the plant operator to respond to the situation.
Fully cooked poultry continues to be safe to eat and there is no evidence to suggest that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit HPAI to humans.
Risk to the public is low.