Avian influenza: What you need to know to protect your workers and your farm
H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, has been making headlines again. While we do not seem to be experiencing human outbreaks, according to Health Canada, the virus has been detected in poultry in several provinces.
“According to Inspections Canada, as of February 21, 2025, we had ten infected premises and 49 previously infected premises reported in Ontario,” says Ryan Dick, Health and Safety Consultant with WSPS. “Approximately 1.1 million birds have been impacted in Ontario.”
We know from experience that an outbreak of bird flu can devastate a flock. A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is extremely contagious in chickens and can be deadly. “It’s basically a cold, but birds usually do not recover from it,” says Ryan, as he explains that one of the ways this virus spreads globally is through migratory birds. “This is why some farmers keep their chickens inside during migration season.”
Signs and symptoms of Avian Flu
If you suspect that you have an infected bird, you need to isolate it immediately in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus. “Once you have an outbreak, usually your only option is to cull the flock,” says Ryan. It spreads through contact and on surfaces. Regularly check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website so that you are aware if the virus has been detected in your area. Keep watch for the following symptoms in chickens.
- lack of energy and movement
- lack of appetite
- decreased egg production
- swelling around the head, neck and eyes
- sneezing and gasping for air
- tremors
- diarrhea
- death
Practice good biosecurity habits
To protect yourself and your farm, establish habits that will prevent the transmission of disease from one place to another. In other words, practice good biosecurity habits. “Essentially, this means restricting pathogens from entering your farm,” says Ryan.
“For example, some farmers will require visitors and employees to wear specific personal protective equipment (PPE) when they come to the farm. Others will not allow people to wear their outdoor clothes when they enter the farm. In these cases, visitors must change their clothing entirely. I’ve seen farms that have boot wash stations for people to use before entering,” explains Ryan. “The specific biosecurity procedures you develop will depend on the type of farming operation you have.”
If you suspect that you have an infected bird, or you find dead birds around your property, take action right away and follow these steps:
- Contact CFIA immediately. The first thing you must do is contact CFIA to report your findings. This will allow them to alert others in your area and ensure appropriate action is taken to reduce the spread.
- Isolate infected birds or animals. An isolation pen is a must-have when dealing with sick animals. “Install physical barriers to separate infected birds or other animals. You could also create a containment facility and house them there,” says Ryan.
- Develop safe work procedures. To protect farm workers from exposure, have clear written procedures for tasks such as moving animals, cleaning contaminated surfaces, quarantining, and inspecting and donning PPE, and ensure that all workers are familiar with the processes.
- Always handle healthy animals before infected animals. Move from healthy animals to sick animals, never the other way around.
- Train employees. Once you have established biosecurity and safe work procedures, you must train everyone on the farm. Ensure that everyone understands the risks of avian influenza and the damage it could do to the farming operation and their health. Train workers to wash their hands after handling animals before touching their face, eating, or smoking.
How WSPS can help
Consulting
WSPS’ agriculture health and safety experts can help you develop biosecurity procedures to protect your farm from avian flu.
Training
- Personal Protective Equipment: The Basics (eCourse, 1 hour)
Resources
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Government of Canada)
- Ontario Public Health (Government of Ontario)
The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.
