Dead waterfowl found in Brampton tests positive for Avian Influenza

Posted Mar 21, 2023

The City of Brampton says waterfowl found dead in areas of Professor’s Lake and Duncan Valley Foster South have tested positive for Avian Influenza, known as bird flu.

Samples were sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for testing, where Avian Influenza was confirmed as the cause of death.

The City of Brampton’s Animal Services team is monitoring the situation.

Health officials say the risk of Avian Influenza spreading to humans is extremely rare, and there is no danger to the public at this time.

“Most cases of human avian flu have been traced to handling infected poultry or their droppings. Residents are asked to follow the recommended guidance to limit the spread of avian flu and protect the health and safety of residents and pets,” says Dr. Nicholas Brandon, Acting Medical Officer of Health in Peel Region.

Pet owners are being advised to take the following precautions:

• Keep animals away from any waterfowl or fecal matter
• Don’t feed or interact with waterfowl
• Keep cats indoors
• Keep dogs on a leash (as required under the municipal by-law)
• Do not feed pets (e.g., dogs or cats) any raw meat from game birds or poultry
• Pet birds, if not normally kept indoors, should be restricted to the indoors
• Bird feeders should be removed or washed with soap and water frequently to reduce the chance of bacterial or viral contamination

Officials say public spaces where the dead birds were found remain open but signs will be in place to “make the general public aware that waterfowl in the area could be infected with Avian Influenza.”

Brampton residents are being asked to call 311 if they spot dead waterfowl.

This latest positive case come as public health officials from across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area investigate the recent sudden deaths of hundreds of birds, with carcasses being tested for possible Avian Influenza.

A highly pathogenic type of H5N1 avian flu has been tearing through Canadian flocks since early 2022, killing millions of birds and infecting a record number of avian species.

A recently confirmed case of bird flu at a chicken farm in the Niagara Region prompted the Toronto Zoo to take steps to protect its birds. The zoo said the positive case was “within 200 kilometres” of the wildlife park.

The zoo said its aviaries would be closed or significantly modified, and behind-the-scenes tours of the areas will be suspended. Zoo animals will not be fed poultry in the meantime.

With files from Lucas Casaletto and The Canadian Press