The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in western Quebec, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says.
Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, president of the CFIA, says a primary control zone for the disease, also known as bird flu, has been declared in an area around Saint-André-Avellin, Que., about 80 kilometres northeast of Ottawa.
Mayor Jean-René Carrière said he was unavailable for an interview Monday, saying only that the provincial agriculture ministry confirms a farm in the area has been affected.
Commercial or non-commercial poultry are “capable of being infected or contaminated by the disease. Anyone with birds must practice good biosecurity habits to protect poultry and prevent disease," says Kochhar.