OTTAWA — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says H5 avian influenza has been confirmed on a turkey farm in southern Ontario.
The CFIA says the farm, and a neighbouring farm in the Woodstock, Ont., area, have been placed under quarantine to control disease spread, and the industry has been notified to adopt enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures.
Further testing by the CFIA is underway to confirm the severity of the illness and to determine the precise subtype and strain of the virus.
The agency says results are expected within days.
Avian influenza does not pose a risk to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked.
Avian influenza rarely affects humans that do not have consistent contact with infected birds.
Initial tests for the disease were conducted Sunday at the Animal Health Laboratory at the University of Guelph, after the turkey farm experienced sudden deaths of birds over several days.
All birds on the infected farm will be humanely euthanized and disposed of.