High Pathogenic Avian Influenza is taking a toll on much of the globe, including Canada.
In the past week, six southern Ontario commercial poultry farms have tested positive for the disease. A federal epidemiologist says researchers have been expecting this, with Ontario being a prime destination for migrating waterfowl.
“It shouldn’t be a big surprise that we’re now starting to see cases of this in Ontario. Most of the cases of this virus have been reported in the Atlantic Flyway. We’ve seen the virus, so far, mostly along the east coast. North and South Carolina were one of the earliest places that we picked up this virus in our wild populations, but it’s starting to move inland. A lot of these ducks were moving between Ontario and the Carolina’s during their normal migration routes.”
Epidemiologists say wild birds typically show neurological signs such as difficulty standing, convulsions and seizures with the disease.
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