Avian Influenza

Alberta’s chicken farmers are as concerned about avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ as you are. While avian influenza has become a global concern several years ago, it has been on the radar of chicken farmers for years.

Consumers can be confident in the fact that Alberta chicken farmers exercise world-leading standards for biosecurity and overall on-farm food safety. Canada has one of the safest and most stringent food safety systems in the world, and Alberta Chicken Producers believes that the federal government will use whatever measures required to protect Canadian consumers, Canadian chicken farmers, and the Canadian agriculture industry.

What is avian influenza (bird flu)?

Avian Influenza (AI) is a virulent and highly contagious viral disease which occurs in poultry and other birds. There are various strains of the avian influenza virus, with the high pathogenic strains having almost 100% fatality rates. Wild birds are often carriers of the low pathogenic strains of the virus without showing any symptoms, and contact of domestic flocks with wild migratory birds has been at the origin of many epidemics in poultry. Avian influenza can occasionally spread to humans and other animals, usually following direct contact with infected birds.

How does bird flu spread?

Infected birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with contaminated excretions or surfaces that are contaminated with excretions. It is believed that most cases of bird flu infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. The spread of avian influenza viruses from one ill person to another has been reported very rarely, and transmission has not been observed to continue beyond one person.

How do people get flu from birds?

The risk for most people is generally low because the viruses occur mainly among birds and do not usually infect humans. However, during an outbreak of bird flu among poultry (domesticated chicken, ducks, turkeys), there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with excretions from infected birds. The current outbreak of avian influenza A (H5N1) among poultry in Asia and Europe is an example of a bird flu outbreak that has caused human infections and deaths. In such situations, people should avoid contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, and should be careful when handling and cooking poultry. For more information about avian influenza and food safety issues, visit the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Could bird flu come to Alberta?

Chicken Farmers of Canada's On-Farm Food Safety Assurance Program (OFFSAP) ensures that top-notch safety procedures and standardized safety systems will be found on each Alberta chicken farm.  Farmers are vigilant about restricting access only to people that are necessary and those must follow the strictest biosecurity protocols.

Is it safe to eat poultry?

Alberta chicken is perfectly safe to eat. AI has never been passed on to humans as the result of eating cooked poultry meat or eggs. The CFIA has import restrictions in place on poultry and non-processed poultry products from any of the countries affected by avian flu. Alberta's 235 chicken farmers are proud to grow safe, quality chicken that consumers can trust.

Should I have a flu shot?

Seasonal flu shots do not protect against AI. However, immunization with the current season flu vaccine is important, though, for those in close contact with infected poultry because it may reduce the likelihood that a worker would be infected with both the human and avian forms of influenza at the same time, which could pose a greater risk. The Public Health Agency of Canada has recommended the flu shot for poultry workers as a precautionary measure.