Photo: The Canadian Press Canadian Geese in Washington Park, Denver, CO, Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The first three cases of bird flu in Quebec have been identified among wild birds in the county. The county Wildlife Department reports that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been confirmed in a Canadian goose and two geese southeast of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS / AP-David Zalubowski Quebec wildlife authorities say the first three cases of bird flu in the province have been identified among wild birds. The county Wildlife Department said today that the H5N1 strain of bird flu was confirmed during a surveillance operation in southwestern Quebec. The strain was found on a Canadian goose in Granby, Que., East of Montreal, and on two geese in the Montérégie area, south of Montreal. Quebec authorities say the flu has been expected to arrive as several outbreaks of both wild and farmed birds have been identified in Canada since December 2021, including the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated in the United States and the virus has been spreading to Europe since 2020. Avian flu is a virus that occurs naturally in wild birds, especially among aquatic species such as geese, ducks and gulls. While it usually causes few clinical symptoms in wild birds, officials say domestic birds are more susceptible to the virus, which can cause high mortality rates in poultry farms.
