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Avian Flu: frequently asked questions

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is providing the information below to address the most frequently asked questions we have received about avian flu.

What is avian influenza (avian flu/bird flu)?

Avian influenza, or avian flu, is a common, naturally occurring virus in birds that has many forms or subtypes. Scientists believe all birds are susceptible to infection by some form of avian flu, but some birds, like waterfowl, can be infected with the virus but develop no signs of illness. In addition, the potency (virulence) varies greatly among the various subtypes of the avian flu virus.

Virulence is classified as either low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Most avian flu subtypes are LPAI and cause little or no signs of illness in domestic or wild birds and pose no threat to human health. These subtypes are found every year in waterfowl. HPAI viruses are associated with the H5 and H7 subtypes. Some strains of the H5 and H7 subtypes are extremely infectious and fatal to domestic poultry, sometimes posing a threat to human health.

What is the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus?

The high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain is a particularly virulent strain of avian flu that was first detected in Southeast Asia in 1997.

Is the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu a risk to humans? 

To date, the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus has resulted in the deaths of millions of domestic birds. Despite the millions of people who have had close contact with domestic fowl during the past 10 years in Asia, just over 560 people have been infected worldwide. This is an extremely low rate of infection. However, human health officials are concerned with the greater than 50 percent mortality rate of people that have been infected. This is much higher than what normally occurs with more typical flu infections.

There is no evidence that the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu is yet present in North America or that wild birds easily transmit this H5N1 strain of avian flu to humans. In almost every case in which the route of transmission has been detected, direct contact between people and domestic fowl has been the probable cause. Only one incident of transmission from wild birds to humans has been recorded. In spring 2006, in Azerbaijan, several villagers contacted H5N1 after plucking the feathers from swans that had died from the disease.  This is a very similar form of direct contact with infected fowl that has been the prevalent route of infection wherever it has occurred. Hunters and all others have always been advised never to handle randomly found birds they find dead in the field.

A limited number of possible human-to-human transmissions have been reported, however, there is no evidence for sustained human-to-human spread of the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu. World health authorities thoroughly investigate every suspected case of human-to-human transmission and continue to conclude that the virus has not evolved into a form that will allow it to become a pandemic disease that could affect large numbers of people.

The risk is greater for humans who are handling infected domestic birds and possibly infected wild birds in affected countries. While the avian flu virus is not currently an issue in North America, DUC encourages people to follow the standard precautions offered by the Public Health Agency of Canada for protecting themselves against all diseases when handling harvested animals. If the disease were to ever become an issue here, these habits would add an extra layer of protection for people, even though it remains highly unlikely for the disease to be transmitted directly from wild birds to people.

How do people get the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus?

To date, transmission from domestic poultry, through contact with infected birds, contaminated surfaces or feces, is the most prevalent way this H5N1 strain of avian flu virus has caused human infection. One single incident of wild bird to human transmission has been recorded as described above.

Do migratory waterfowl disperse the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu virus?

The available evidence supports the contention that migrating birds are responsible for part of the spread of the high pathogenic Asian H5N1 strain of avian flu. However, the illegal movement and trade of poultry has also been implicated in the dispersal of the virus and seen by most authorities as the most serious threat to spread the disease.

Tens of thousands of wild birds have been sampled in North America, and officials haven't found any infected with the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu virus. While the high pathogenic H5N1 strain kills some waterfowl species, most survive and may become carriers of the disease without showing any outward symptoms. Intensive monitoring of wild birds is continuing worldwide in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa in order to follow the spread of the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu. Researchers continue to confirm the occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in wild birds in several countries of Asia and Europe.

Where has the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu virus been detected?

To date, the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu has not been detected in North America. An extensive government surveillance system has been established to detect its arrival should it occur.

The World Organization for Animal Health and The World Health Organization maintain web pages devoted to reporting all laboratory confirmed cases of the H5 strains of avian flu in animals and humans based on location.

Why should I continue supporting DUC’s habitat conservation work when the wetlands you are conserving are home to migratory birds (including ducks) which may be spreading the avian flu virus to humans?

There is no evidence that the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu is yet present in North America. To date, transmission from domestic poultry, through contact with infected birds, contaminated surfaces or feces, is the most prevalent way this H5N1 strain of avian flu virus has caused human infection. One single incident of wild bird to human transmission has been recorded.

With this in mind, your continued support of DUC’s wetland conservation efforts is critical.

Enjoyment of the outdoors and Canada’s wetlands is a fundamental Canadian experience that is entrenched in the history of DUC. DUC is committed to working with others to ensure that effective solutions to prevent the spread of avian flu take into consideration the need to conserve Canada’s wetland habitats, of which up to 70 per cent have already disappeared in settled areas.

Wetland habitats provide multi-benefits to everyone, including clean water, reduced impact of floods and droughts, protection from soil erosion, and much more.  Furthermore, wetland habitats contribute to biodiversity by providing food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife, insects, plants and waterfowl, including endangered species.

For these reasons, DUC joins other world conservation organizations to strongly oppose the culling of wild birds and the draining of wetlands as a means of controlling avian flu. The best science, as well as common sense, indicates that these actions are impractical, and could even result in an increase in the spread of the virus by causing birds to disperse more widely. The American Bird Conservancy, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization have also taken this position. In fact, according to a United Nations Environment Programme report, compelling evidence suggests that conserving and restoring wetlands is an important tool to further reducing future threats of avian flu because wetlands help to keep wild birds away from domestic poultry flocks.

What is being done to monitor for the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu in North America?

Because some waterfowl and shorebird species migrate between Alaska and Asia, and across the Atlantic from Europe, authorities in the wildlife conservation, hunting and medical communities are taking steps to monitor the situation closely and take action if necessary.

The probability of the arrival of high pathogenic H5N1 avian flu in North American waterfowl cannot be predicted. In Canada, health and management of migratory birds are within the jurisdiction of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) of Environment Canada. The CWS is actively participating in the monitoring and reporting of avian flu in Canada among migratory birds, in consultation with other agencies such as the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC), which coordinates Canada's national wildlife health surveillance program and provides educational programs, information, and consultation to both government and non-government agencies, as well as to the public.

Canada’s federal government has established a website for avian flu which provides a central portal of information on Canada’s management of the virus. The site identifies the lead agencies responsible for monitoring of and response to emerging information on avian flu. DUC will continue to monitor emerging avian flu information from these and other sources.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center and others are diligently monitoring migratory birds in all 50 states. Tens of thousands of waterfowl and shorebird samples have been collected, and the high pathogenic H5N1 virus has not yet been found.

In the United States, the federal government has established a website at www.pandemicflu.gov. Managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the website provides one-stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information.

Why has the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus received so much attention from the medical community and the media?

A much greater concern than the negligible risk of widespread high pathogenic H5N1 transmission from wild birds directly to the human population is the risk that the virus could change and acquire the ability to efficiently jump from human to human. Experts are concerned that under these conditions, the virus could spread rapidly among humans resulting in a global pandemic (in other words, infection occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting a high proportion of the population). This has not occurred since high pathogenic H5N1 has emerged but it remains a possibility and health officials must prepare for the worst case scenario. This fact is the basis for the widespread concern and publicity that has been reported throughout the world during the last year. World health authorities are intensively monitoring the possible occurrence of a new pandemic strain emerging.

Are North American waterfowl hunters at risk of contracting the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu while waterfowl hunting?

There is no evidence that the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu is present in North America, so there presently is no risk to hunters on this continent. Therefore, there is no risk of contracting the virus from birds in North America. In fact, the risk of contracting the virus from birds in areas where the virus is currently found is low and has been, so far, highest in individuals who had close contact with infected domestic poultry or fowl.

What kind of precautions should I take if handling wild birds?

While the high pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian flu is currently not a threat to the Canadian public, DUC encourages people to follow the standard precautions offered by the Public Health Agency of Canada for protecting themselves against wildlife related diseases when handling harvested animals

"Persons handling wild birds should follow routine hand washing and safe food preparation practices. These include disinfecting surfaces, being careful to avoid cross contamination with other food products, keeping raw meat away from other food utensils, and thoroughly cooking all wild birds prior to eating. Following these steps is good practice to minimize risks associated with the handling and preparation of wild fowl.”

Ducks Unlimited encourages waterfowl hunters to follow these practices while handling dead waterfowl.  There are other diseases besides avian flu that can be spread to humans. We believe hunters should think of making these standard habits as they will add an additional layer of protection against avian flu and any other disease.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has also developed a fact sheet that advises on how to minimize risks, especially if you are traveling to an area affected by avian flu.

Is it okay to eat ducks, geese and other wild birds?

Yes. The standard recommendation for ensuring that any wild game is safely cooked is to cook all types of meat thoroughly to at least 70-75 degrees Celsius (155-165 degrees Fahrenheit) to kill disease organisms, parasites and viruses such as avian flu.

What should I do if I find an unusual number of dead ducks, or geese while hunting or visiting a wetland?

It's not uncommon to see dead ducks or geese while in the field. Do not assume that any form of bird flu killed the ducks or geese, because these birds can die from many other causes.

However, if you should notice an unusual number of dead waterfowl, you should call the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) hotline at 1-800-567-2033 and report what you have seen.

I’ve heard reports of high pathogenic H5N1 infections in domestic cats and dogs. Is it possible for household pets to contract avian flu?

Avian flu typically affects species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet birds and wild birds. Studies have shown that a small number of mammalian species are susceptible to natural infection with avian flu viruses. While there have been reports of high pathogenic H5N1 avian flu infection with mortality in domestic cats and tigers in zoos, this is a rare event. These cases continue to be investigated, but current indications are that it is unlikely that high pathogenic H5N1 infection in cats presents a significant risk to human health. There is little or no evidence of H5N1 infection or mortality in dogs. A study of 600 stray dogs in Thailand, where the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 is very common, detected 25 per cent of these dogs carrying H5N1 antibodies, proving that the dogs had been exposed to the disease but shed it and showed no signs of sickness. It is important to remember that the high pathogenic H5N1 virus of concern has not been detected in North America.

Avian flu antibodies have shown up in some duck hunters and state wildlife agency employees in Iowa. What does that mean? Is it a cause for concern?

It means that at some time in the past these people came in contact with a different form of avian flu than the Asian variety that has caused all the recent concern, and that their immune system reacted by producing antibodies that eliminated the virus. This is one of the ways our bodies normally react to low pathogenic viruses and other antigens.

Of the 107 people sampled who had closely handled wild birds for an average of 20 years, only three showed the antibody reaction. This is an extremely low rate of antibody response considering that 10–50 percent of wild waterfowl typically are infected with some form of avian influenza in the fall preceding migration. It is almost certain that the viruses were simply incapable of infecting those who were exposed in most cases. There may have been only three cases in which the virus was strong enough to elicit an antibody response. This is similar to what health authorities would expect and is not seen as a cause for concern. It provides little guidance as to how the human body might react to the H5N1 virus. However, research continues to see if more sensitive assays will detect additional cases with antibodies.

Where can I obtain more information about avian flu?

Visit DUC's avian flu references page for recommended sources of information.

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