A domestic dog in Oshawa, Ont., recently died of bird 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 Diseases 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 major avian outbreaks globally in recent years. “, specifies the Agency.
The latter adds that the risk to the general public “remains low” and the chances of a human being contracting bird flu from a pet “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, the CFIA said, adding that to date “there has been no evidence of sustained transmission between individuals”.
Pet owners are still advised to take certain precautions including:
More details to come.
