Avian flu occurs naturally in wild birds. Highly pathogen avian flu has been detected in North America, including British Columbia.
A local teenager was confirmed to have contracted avian flu early in November and was treated by B.C. Children’s Hospital. Health officials said the illness was likely spread from a bird or other animal.
The Avian Influenza Virus does not pose a risk to humans if birds are properly handled and cooked.
The Public Health Agency of Canada provides the following advice to hunters:
- Do not handle or eat birds that appear to be ill or that have died from unknown causes.
- When handling birds, stay upwind to avoid inhaling dust feathers and aerosols.
- When handling birds indoors, use a properly ventilated environment. Wearing a mask will further reduce your risk of inhaling pathogens
- Avoid contact with blood, feces, and respiratory secretions. Wear protective gloves.
- When you are finished handling a carcass wash with warm water and soap, or use hand sanitizer.
- Clean and disinfect working surfaces and tools.
- If you become ill in the 10 days after handling wild birds, contact your health care provider.
- Cook game meat and organs to an internal temperature of 165F and whole birds to 180F.
- Store raw meat, organs and eggs separately from other foods to avoid contamination.