OTTAWA — A duck farm in St. Catharines, Ont., has been placed under quarantine because of H5 avian influenza.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says preliminary testing has confirmed the presence of the virus and further testing is underway to determine its precise subtype and strain.
The CFIA says those results are expected within days.
In addition to the quarantine, the CFIA says it will draw up a surrounding surveillance zone for further testing and control measures.
The CFIA says all birds on the infected farm will be euthanized and it will oversee the cleaning and disinfection of barns, vehicles, equipment and tools to eliminate any infectious material that may remain.
Avian influenza rarely affects humans and does not pose a risk to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked.