(Yellowknife, November 29, 2024) – Following notice issued about a confirmed case in a bird of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or Avian flu in the Northwest Territories (NWT) the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) wants to share information about how and when to access health services if you think you may have been exposed to an infected animal.

What is avian influenza and how is it spread?

Avian influenza is an infection that has been found in some populations of wild birds and other animals as well as in outbreaks among farmed poultry or cattle.

Human infections are very rare and are almost always associated with handling of infected poultry or livestock without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), mostly in farm-related outbreaks.  In humans, illness can be mild but also has a high risk of progressing to severe illness, even in otherwise healthy people. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans:

If you have been exposed to a dead or sick bird in the past 10 days and develop any respiratory symptoms, or are in the future, please contact your healthcare provider. If people do become ill from avian influenza, the symptoms can be similar to seasonal influenza, including any of the following symptoms:

• Fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, pink eye, muscle aches, or fatigue.

Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures. Symptoms usually show up within a week after exposure and can progress quickly. 

Early treatment, ideally within the first 48 hours after even mild symptoms begin, is very important in reducing the chance of severe illness. However, if you have any symptoms,  it is never too late to seek care.

To protect yourself, residents are urged to do the following:

• Avoid handling sick or dead birds or infected livestock.  If you see any sick or dead wildlife, report it to your local ECC Regional Office or email WildlifeVeterinarian@gov.nt.ca.
• If you've handled a sick wild bird: Monitor your health closely for symptoms and contact your local health clinic or 811 for advice. If you develop any symptoms, even mild ones, within 10 days of exposure, seek treatment quickly, ideally within 48 hours, to reduce the risk of severe illness.
• If you feel unwell and have been around sick birds or animals with known or suspected avian influenza: Contact your local health centre for assessment or call 811. It is important to advise your health care provider or 811 of your animal exposure.
• Don’t let pets play with dead birds: Health Canada advises keeping cats and dogs away from dead birds to reduce the risk of infection.

For more information about avian influenza, visit www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildlife-diseases. 

For more information about accessing health services in your region, please visit Regional Portals | Health and Social Services Authority.