Bird flu confirmed at commercial poultry farm in Amherstburg

There has been a confirmed case of avian flu in Amherstburg, causing action to protect poultry in the area. CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum has the details.

Federal officials have confirmed bird flu at a commercial poultry farm in Amherstburg, prompting immediate containment measures across parts of Windsor-Essex.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected Feb. 19 at the facility.

Within 24 hours, the agency declared a primary control zone – a restricted area designed to stop the virus from spreading.

That zone now covers a large stretch of southern Windsor-Essex, including Amherstburg and surrounding agricultural areas.

Control zones limit the movement of poultry, eggs and related products.

The CFIA has not identified the farm or said how many birds are involved.

The agency says bird flu doesn’t usually pose a risk to the general public, but outbreaks can have serious consequences for farmers and the region’s poultry industry.

CTV News has reached out to federal officials for more details.

Meanwhile, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) says it has worked closely with partners to support the response to avian influenza detected at a local poultry farm late last week.

A statement released by the health unit said, “Our primary focus is protecting the health of our community by preventing any transmission of the virus to humans and ensuring the broader safety of residents across the region.”

“Human infections with avian influenza are rare and typically only occur through close contact with infected animals,” said Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Medical Officer of Health. “Residents can be assured that the WECHU is actively monitoring the situation and working with all partners to keep the risk low. If new information arises or if the level of public risk changes, the health unit will communicate updates.”