A domestic dog in Oshawa, Ont., recently died of avian flu symptoms he allegedly developed after chewing a wild goose, a first in the country.
The animal’s necropsy was performed on April 3, 2023 and showed respiratory system disease. Additional testing is underway, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) National Center for Foreign Animal Disease said Tuesday.
“The number of documented cases of H5N1 avian influenza in non-avian species, such as cats and dogs, is low, despite the fact that this virus has caused significant avian outbreaks globally in recent years. “, specifies the Agency.
The latter adds that the risk for the general public “remains low” and the chances that a human being contracts avian flu from a domestic animal “minimal”.
Cases of avian influenza in humans are rare and almost always obtained by direct contact with infected birds or by exposure to highly contaminated environments, recalls the CFIA, adding that to date “there has been no evidence of sustained transmission between individuals”.
Pet owners are still encouraged to take certain precautions, including:
- Do not feed raw game bird or poultry meat to pets.
- Do not allow pets to consume or play with dead wild birds found outdoors.
- Contact their veterinarian if they have questions about their pet’s health.
More details to come.