Veterinary clinics in BC have had to establish bird flu protocols due to the risk of human exposure

British Columbia's chief veterinarian has told clinics that treat wild birds to establish protocols to prevent the spread of bird flu, warning of the risk of human exposure to the disease.

Dr. Theresa Burns said in a letter to veterinarians last week that reports of sick and dead wild birds in the province have increased recently and that clinics that handle wild birds must have safety procedures in place and ensure staff are trained and equipped with the right protection.

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Days after Burns issued her letter, B.C. health authorities announced the first case of a human bird flu infection acquired in Canada, with the teenage patient in critical condition in hospital.

Burns said in an interview that her office has been working to educate veterinarians about the H5N1 bird flu virus since 2022, and the letter was another reminder in the middle of the fall migration.

When birds get this flu, they show symptoms such as an inability to fly, weakness and neurological symptoms, she said.

“And then people find those birds, and out of the goodness of their hearts, they pick them up to try to help them, and often they take them to animal hospitals for care,” she said.

“And we just want to make sure that our veterinarians and their staff, who may be called, or have people who bring in these wild birds, are aware of bird flu and what they need to do to protect themselves and their staff. ”

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Burns said sick birds should be isolated from people and animals and anyone who comes into contact with them should wear protective gear, including gowns, gloves and eye protection.

Rob Hope, general manager of the OWL Rehabilitation Center in Delta, B.C., says the centre, which cares for birds of prey including eagles, falcons, hawks and owls, has been taking extra precautions for years to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Hope said staff have become skilled at recognizing the disease and can often make a diagnosis when they see photos or videos of a bird.

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Update from Dr. Bonnie Henry on the H5N1 bird flu found in a teenager in BC

If H5N1 is suspected, he says the animal will be kenneled to the center and placed in quarantine, where it will be cared for only by selected staff in full protective gear, including gowns, masks, booties and face shields.

He said the center has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks compared to last month and many of the animals are dying within 24 hours.

“Most of the time they die anyway, but at least people don't play with them or poke them, you know? Scenarios like that,” he said

Burns said people should not touch sick or dead birds they find in the wild.

Before the announcement of the BC case this week, there was one previous infection in Canada, in Alberta, in 2014. That person died and health officials determined the victim likely contracted the virus while traveling in China.

BC officials have said they do not yet know how the teen contracted the virus.

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BC Bird flu case

“This is, as I said, a rare event and we want to make sure it doesn't spread. That's one of the things we've been focused on this weekend, and we haven't identified any further cases,” said B.C.'s provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Tuesday.

Burns said tests of marsh sediments in areas where wild birds gather have shown high levels of the H5N1 variant of the virus, but so far the number of wild birds reported with the infection is similar to those in 2022 and 2023.

British Columbia's commercial poultry industry has been hit hard by bird flu. This fall, 28 flocks were infected as migratory birds head south for the winter. Since the spring of 2022, more than 6.5 million birds have been culled in the province due to bird flu.

Burns said the industry saw a rise in cases at the start of this season and it is unclear whether this will continue or level off in the coming weeks.

Migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl species such as ducks and geese, are believed to be the main carriers of the disease, but government data shows other infected species also include hawks, ravens and herons.

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