A farm in Chatham-Kent is under quarantine because the bird flu has been detected in a flock of poultry.
The Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the avian influenza was detected at the unidentified farm on Wednesday.
The agency has established movement control measures across the municipality to prevent the spread of the bird flu and is recommending enhanced biosecurity for other farms within the area.
The CFIA has confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic bird flu at 10 farms in Ontario since March 27, 2022, half of them this week alone. Seven poultry flocks in the province have been infected and three backyard flocks are under quarantine.
Disease in poultry and other avian species can be spread through diseased birds or birds carrying disease; animals other than birds, such as farm animals, pets, wild birds and other wildlife, vermin and insects; on the clothing and shoes of visitors and employees moving from flock-to-flock; in contaminated feed, water, bedding and litter; from the carcasses of dead birds; on contaminated farm equipment and vehicles; through contact with neighbouring flocks; or in airborne particles and dust blown by the wind.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States said the avian flu usually does not infect people, but there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses. The CDC noted illness in humans from bird flu virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death.
CFIA officials said avian influenza is spreading in wild bird populations across the globe and presents a significant national concern as birds migrate to Canada.
"The CFIA continues to remind anyone with poultry or other susceptible birds to practice good biosecurity habits to protect them from infectious animal diseases," said CFIA officials.
Ontario boasts the largest chicken farming, processor and consumer base in Canada, according to the Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO). The CFO said more than 200 million chickens are grown every year by more than 1,200 independent chicken farms. The birds are processed at 16 primary processing facilities, and more than 20 custom processing operations.
