A strain of highly pathogenic bird flu continues to circulate in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The number of waterfowl testing positive for avian influenza has gone down in Newfoundland and Labrador, but government authorities are still asking anyone heading out on the land to hunt to take precautions.
“They want people to take this risk seriously and follow the proper hygiene that will protect them and their families,” said Allen Hanson, head of aquatic assessment for the Canadian Wildlife Service.
There have been 110 confirmed of bird flu found in the province so far, but the testing suggests the virus is responsible for thousands of bird deaths. A positive hike started in July last year, including puffins, murres, eider ducks that were found dead from the virus.
Hanson said in Labrador 45 dead birds were submitted for testing and 12 returned positive. The amount of birds testing positive has slowed since the beginning of 2023, with 9 positive cases provincially.
But the Canadian Wildlife Service is asking hunters to act as though any bird or marine mammal may have the virus.
Fully cooked wild birds do not pose a risk, so they are safe to consume, but the real risk is that how people are handling the birds, said Hanson.
The virus transmits to other mammals and land animals like red foxes, black bears, and seals, and porpoises have died from the virus as well, Hanson said, so people have to take precaution and wear gloves and avoid touching their faces.