A herring gull found in Yellowknife’s Niven Lake neighbourhood is the first confirmed case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the territory.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) confirmed on Wednesday the bird, which was referred to wildlife officers in June, was confirmed this month as a case of HPAI.
Although avian flu can pass from wild, domestic or livestock birds to humans, the risk to the public remains low: Only one bird out of 54 tested was positive, and nationwide there have been no confirmed human infections since cases were first confirmed in February.
The Department of ENR still advises residents to exercise caution by avoiding contact with dead wild birds or birds showing strange behaviour.
