B.C. animal sanctuary shares update on avian influenza, reports deaths of 19 birds

A colourized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses (seen in gold) grown in MDCK cells (seen in green). (CDC / Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz, Sharif Zaki)

An animal sanctuary in B.C.’s Okanagan is sharing more information about an outbreak of avian influenza staff and volunteers have described as “devastating” and “heartbreaking.”

Critteraid, which takes in cats, dogs and farm animals, posted a notice online last week saying it was closed due to a positive case of H5N1 avian influenza.

In an update Monday, the organization provided additional details, saying its resident rooster, Delta, became sick and died on Oct. 25. The next morning, another three birds were found deceased. Over the next two days, eight more chickens died and two were euthanized, according to the statement.

Avian flu was confirmed by lab testing on Oct. 29.

On Nov. 8, the five resident ducks were euthanized with “love and dignity,” according to the statement.

“Charles was 18 years old, Martin was nine, Cossette was 12, Bernie seven and Thelma five years old. We loved them dearly,” the organization said.

The farm has been closed to everyone but essential personnel since the virus was detected, and Interior Health has been notified and is doing contact-tracing among staff and volunteers, who handled the birds without any protective gear prior to the virus being confirmed.

“Essential personnel at the farm are following strict protocols while they do their tasks, to minimize their risk. We are working with an epidemiologist to make sure that all of our other animals at the farm and cat sanctuary are protected,” the statement continued.

“It’s important to note that no humans have tested positive, had any symptom or felt sick in any way, to date.”

The initial source of the virus is not known, but the organization noted it is on a migratory bird path and that the area, generally, is home to large numbers of ducks and geese.

Critteraid also published a document answering some common questions that have arisen since it publicized the avian flu case—several related to the cull at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

“Is the (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) bringing dead, massacred, beheaded ostriches to the farm? Absolutely NO,” the statement said.

Critteraid also said the organization has been threatened in the days since going public about the avian flu case and that it is not true that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is killing all of the animals in its care “including dogs and cats.”

The organization also made it explicit that it was not responsible for two online petitions that have been launched and which include misinformation about what is happening at the sanctuary, and the role of the CFIA.