The city says the Department of Agriculture has confirmed that samples collected from a goose found near Elrose were positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo has temporarily relocated all bird species to the zoo to protect them from bird flu. The city is asking everyone to help respond to the ongoing outbreak, following a few instructions, which include not feeding the birds by hand, temporarily remove the bird feeders that encourage the birds to gather. Do not touch sick or dead birds and report any sick or dead birds to the Ministry of Environment. The city says bird flu is a viral infection that can spread easily and quickly among birds, and some species of wild birds, such as ducks, can transmit the virus and infect other birds without making themselves sick. However, other bird species are more likely to become seriously ill and die when they become infected with certain types of bird flu. City officials say the risk to public health is extremely low and there is no risk to food safety.
