Insect and Animal Diseases

Enjoying the outdoors can help you stay fit and healthy, but it can also make you sick. Take steps to protect yourself and your family from these outdoor health concerns:

Information for Health Care Providers

Avian flu

Avian influenza, often called “bird flu,” most commonly affects wild and domestic birds. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) is a strain of avian flu that causes high levels of death in some birds, while other birds can be infected and not show any signs of sickness. 

Human cases are rare and usually occur due to unprotected contact with infected birds or animals. Person-to-person transmission of avian flu is very rare. 

Sporadic detection of avian flu has been found in other animals, such as raccoons, striped skunks, red foxes, cats, dogs and cattle. In the United States, HPAI H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in unpasteurized milk from infected dairy cattle. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not detected avian flu in dairy cattle or livestock in Canada. 

The risk to the general public is low, but people are discouraged from contact with wild birds and from consuming undercooked meat or poultry and unpasteurized dairy products.  

For the latest information visit Public Health Agency of Canada’s Update on Avian Influenza.

Symptoms 

Symptoms of avian flu are similar to symptoms of seasonal flu. In humans, symptoms are usually mild but can become severe. Symptoms include: 

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion/runny nose
  • Red/watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Tiredness

Less common symptoms include: 

  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea 
  • Seizures 
Prevention and protection 

What precautions can I take to protect myself against avian flu?

  • Avoid contact with wild birds and sick animals.
  • Do not consume raw meat or poultry or unpasteurized dairy products.
  • Make sure meat products are properly cooked. See the Eating poultry products and wild game for more information.
  • Get your annual flu vaccine.
    • The flu vaccine does not specifically prevent avian flu, but it can help you from getting seasonal flu, which could weaken your immune system or resistance to other infections.
  • People who work with birds and livestock can refer to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for more information.

How can I protect my pets or backyard poultry from avian flu?

How is the spread of avian influenza being prevented?

  • When infected domestic flocks are identified, the birds are humanely euthanized. Only essential workers are allowed to enter the barn or area where the birds live, with appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Affected poultry farms are quarantined, which means that movement in and out of the farms is controlled to prevent the virus from spreading.
  • Birds on quarantined farms are also monitored for illness by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Exposure and testing 

Who is at risk of being exposed to avian influenza? 

  • The risk for the general population is low. 
  • For individuals who may have been exposed to this virus through their work involving direct contact with infected birds or other animals – such as poultry farmers, veterinarians and lab workers – the risk of serious illness is low. 
  • High risk activities include: 
    • Caring for diseased birds 
    • Dressing birds that died from the disease 
    • Consuming raw or inadequately cooked poultry parts and organs

I’ve recently handled a sick bird or think I have been exposed to avian influenza. What should I do? 

  • If you have handled sick wildlife or poultry, monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days from exposure. If you develop symptoms, tell your health care provider about your exposure to birds or wildlife and whether or not you were wearing personal protective equipment. 

  • People who have had contact with birds that are infected with avian influenza are identified and monitored by the local public health unit for ten days after their last exposure, to ensure that they do not become sick.  

  • Influenza antiviral medication may be recommended by your health care provider to help prevent infection, particularly when there has been a lot of contact with infected birds or their environment, without adequate personal protective equipment. 

Who can be tested for avian influenza? 

  • In Ontario, people who are symptomatic and have had exposure to an infected bird or premises can be tested. Please contact your health care provider. 
Eating poultry products and wild game  

Can I get avian flu from eating poultry or eggs?

  • There is no risk of catching avian flu from fully cooked eggs or poultry.
  • Because of early detection and control of birds infected with avian flu, the chance of infected birds entering the food chain is very low.
  • Properly handled, prepared and cooked poultry (e.g. chicken, turkey, duck) does not pose a risk for avian flu.
  • Always store poultry products and eggs according to directions on the package.
  • Do not rinse poultry products before cooking them, as this can spread pathogens that may be found on the raw product.
  • Be sure cutting boards and utensils used to prepare raw poultry and eggs are washed and dried well, before they are used for any other foods. Anytime you handle raw poultry or egg products, wash your hands for 20 seconds in warm running water with soap.
  • Eggs should be cooked thoroughly before eating.
  • Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached the proper cooking temperature:
    • Whole poultry, 82°C/180°F
    • Poultry pieces or ground poultry, 74°C/165°F

What if I hunt and cook wild birds such as wild geese and ducks? 

People who hunt and eat wild birds should take the following precautions to help reduce risk: 

  • Do not handle or eat sick birds or birds that have died from unknown causes. 
  • Cook game meat thoroughly, to an internal temperature of approximately 74ºC/165ºF. 
  • Avoid direct contact with blood, feces and respiratory secretions of all wild birds and immediately remove and wash clothing that may be contaminated. 
  • Do not eat, drink or smoke when cleaning wild game birds. 
  • Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling or cleaning game. 
  • Wash gloves, hands and clothing with soap and warm water immediately after you have finished cleaning game. 
  • Thoroughly clean contaminated tools and work surfaces with hot, soapy water and then disinfect the area using a household disinfectant. 
  • Keep young children away when cleaning game birds and discourage them from playing in areas that could be contaminated with wild bird droppings. 
  • If you become sick after handling game birds, see your health care provider and inform them that you have been in contact with wild birds. 

For more information visit Wildlife and avian influenza – Handling guidelines to protect your health. 
Reporting sick or dead wild bird 
  • Do not approach or handle live, sick or dead wild birds.
  • Public Health does not pick up or collect dead birds. 
  • If you encounter sick or dead wild birds, call the Ontario Regional Centre of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781. More information can be found on the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative website. 
  • If the dead bird is not being collected by authorities, avoid handling the bird altogether or dispose of the bird in the following manner: 
    • Use a tool like a small shovel or large tongs or wear disposable plastic or rubber gloves. 
    • Alternatively, the dead bird may be placed in a puncture-resistant leak-proof plastic bag by inverting the bag over the hand, then grasping the carcass through the bag and wrapping the bag around the bird without touching the blood, body fluids and feces. 
    • Bury the dead bird several feet deep where it will not be disturbed. 
    • People handling birds (live or dead) should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water immediately afterward. 
    • Always dispose of a dead bird in a way so that no one can handle it again. 
Resources 

Mental health resources for farmers - Government of Ontario 

Avian Influenza (bird flu) - Canadian Food Inspection Agency  

Canadian Food Inspection Agency's High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Wildlife 

Wildlife and avian influenza: Handling guidelines to protect your health - Public Health Agency of Canada 

Avian influenza in poultry - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 

Avian influenza – Government of Ontario 

Avian influenza A (H5N1): Symptoms and treatment - Government of Canada 

Avian influenza – Public Health Ontario 

Avian influenza in wild birds - Environment and Climate Change Canada 

Avian influenza virus - Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 

Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic) - World Health Organization 

Avian influenza (Bird flu) - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  

Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases

Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria carried by blacklegged ticks, however, not all blacklegged ticks are infected. The disease spreads when an infected tick bites a person.

Areas of risk

Ticks commonly live in wooded areas, tall grasses, and bushes and can be found almost anywhere in Ontario, including city gardens and parks. Blacklegged ticks spread to new areas of the province because of climate change and warmer winter temperatures. They can also spread by travelling on birds and deer. Tick-borne diseases are not spread from person to person.

Ticks are found in many places across the Region. For more information about where blacklegged ticks are typically found, check the Ontario Vector-Borne Disease Tool. Always take precautions in wooded or bushy areas, or areas with tall grass, even if they are not identified as high risk areas on the map.

While ticks are most active in spring and summer, they can be found during any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing. 
Protecting yourself

Ticks are tiny. Before they feed they are the size of a sesame seed (3-5 millimetres). There are things you can do to protect yourself from a tick bite:

  • Wear light-coloured clothing so it is easier to see ticks on your body.
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pants into your socks.
  • Stay on the trail if you're hiking in a forested or grassy area.
  • Wear an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. Always read the label for directions on how to use it.

After an outdoor activity, you can:

  • Put your clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any possible ticks, follow fabric care guidelines.
  • Check yourself and children for ticks. Take a shower as soon as you can to wash off a tick that may not be attached through a bite.
  • Regularly check pets that spend time outdoors. Ticks may attach to them and be carried indoors, putting you and your family at risk of being bitten.
Removing a tick
If you find a tick on your body, remove it immediately. Infected ticks need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease. 

To remove a tick you should:

  • Use fine-pointed tweezers to grab the tick's head and mouth as close to your skin as possible
  • Pull slowly
  • Do not twist or rotate and try not to damage it
  • Place the tick in a small sealed bag or a container with a lid
  • Thoroughly wash the area where you were bitten with soap and water
Testing a tick

The National Microbiology Lab is no longer testing blacklegged ticks for Lyme bacteria. As a result, Region of Waterloo Public Health will no longer be accepting ticks for submission.

The purpose of tick identification and testing is to gather data and monitor for new and emerging tick populations in Ontario. Tick submissions are for surveillance purposes only and not intended for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.

When you find a tick attached to yourself or a family member, use the website eTick.ca to identify the tick. eTick is a public platform for image-based tick identification. There is no cost to use this platform and the website is best viewed with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. You will receive identification results within 48 hours along with public health education and awareness messaging.

If through eTick, the tick has been identified as a blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis) tick or cannot be identified, please contact your health care provider, particularly if you are feeling unwell. Speak to your health care provider about what next steps to take, if any, for your health. Tell your doctor where you were when you got the tick bite to help them assess your risk of Lyme disease.or other tick-borne diseases. The risk of infection is low if a tick was attached to your skin for less than 24 hours.

Please speak to your veterinarian if you find a tick on your pet. 
Lyme disease symptoms

Lyme disease is diagnosed through a combination of symptom presentation, history of exposure to infected ticks and/or validated laboratory test results.

If you have been bitten by a tick and believe you have symptoms of Lyme disease it is important to see your doctor for medical advice. Tell them where you were when you got the tick bite to help them assess your risk of Lyme disease. The risk of infection is low if a tick was attached to your skin for less than 24 hours.

Symptoms usually appear from three days to one month after being bitten by an infectious tick. Signs of infection may include:

  • A circular rash referred to as a "bull's eye" rash
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Chills
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Fatigue

If you develop any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention. If left untreated, more severe symptoms can develop.

Tick-borne diseases

Anaplasmosis

Anaplasmosis is an infection caused by a bacteria spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. An infected tick will usually transmit the bacteria to a person when attached and feeding for at least 12 hours.

Mild to moderate flu-like symptoms may appear within 1-2 weeks after exposure including:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite

 Delayed treatment of Anaplasmosis can lead to more severe illness.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is an infection caused by a parasite and spread by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. It usually takes 24 hours for an infected tick to spread Babesia when attached and feeding.

Many people will not have any symptoms when infected with Babesiosis. In some cases, symptoms can range from mild to severe:

  • Fever
  • Chills and sweats
  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • Loss of appetite and nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Jaundice
  • Dark urine

Powassan virus

Powassan virus infections are spread to humans by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. It can take as little as 15 minutes for Powassan virus to be acquired from an attached tick.

Most people infected with Powassan virus will have no symptoms. In some cases, symptoms can range from mild to severe:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Weakness/lack of energy and fatigue
  • Neurological symptoms (confusion, loss of co-ordination, difficulty speaking)

Additional resources

What you need to know about ticks

Tick Information Card

Rabies

Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease that attacks the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans.

A bite from an infected animal is the most common way rabies is spread. It can also spread when infected saliva comes into contact with a scratch, open wound or your mouth, nose or eyes.

Animal bites
Visit the Animal Bites page for information on preventing animal bites and scratches.
Vaccinate your pet
All cats and dogs over the age of three months must be vaccinated against rabies. It is the law. Pet owners whose animals are not vaccinated can be fined.
Symptoms

Symptoms of rabies in animals may include:

  • A change in behaviour
    • More quiet or depressed
    • Unusually friendly when normally timid
    • More aggressive toward people, animals, objects, or even its own body
  • Loss of appetite, or difficulty eating or drinking
  • Barking or meowing differently
  • Excessive drool
  • Biting the site of the wound where it was exposed to rabies
  • Overreacting to touch, sound or light
  • Staggering or falling
  • Becoming partially or completely unable to move

West Nile virus

West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes and can cause serious illness. The virus spreads when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird and then bites a person.

Prevent Exposure to West Nile Virus - Video

Monitoring West Nile virus

Public Health conducts and annual program that uses a layered approach to monitoring and preventing West Nile in Waterloo Region. This includes:

  • Monitoring the presence of the virus in mosquitoes and people
  • Identifying and mapping mosquito breeding grounds
  • Trapping and testing mosquitoes
  • Controlling mosquito populations by removing places where mosquitoes breed
  • Applying larvicide to areas where mosquito larvae has been found, according to provincial guidelines
Protecting yourself

Reduce standing water outside your home by:

  • Storing items such as wheelbarrows upside down
  • Changing bird bath water twice a week
  • Covering rain barrels with a fine mesh screen
  • Clearing eaves troughs and down spouts of leaves and twigs

Use screens to keep mosquitoes outside by:

  • Fixing holes in window screens
  • Making sure screen fits snugly
  • Keeping windows/doors without screens closed

Protect yourself by:

  • Wearing light-coloured clothing
  • Wearing long sleeves and pants and a hat
  • Wearing socks and closed-toe shoes
  • Using insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin
Symptoms

Most people do not experience any symptoms. For those who do become ill, symptoms can occur three to 15 days following the bite of an infected mosquito.

Symptoms may include:

  • Mild fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Stiff neck
  • Swollen glands
  • Skin rash
  • In rare cases, more severe symptoms can develop

If you develop these symptoms it is important to seek medical attention.

What to do with dead birds
  • Do not approach or handle live, sick or dead wild birds.
  • Public Health does not pick up or collect dead birds.
  • If you observe sick or dead wild birds, report to The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative or call the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-866-673-4781.
  • If the dead bird is not being collected by authorities, then avoid handling the bird altogether, or dispose of the bird in the following manner:
    • Use an implement such as a small shovel or large tongs, or by hand only if disposable plastic or rubber gloves are worn. Alternatively, the dead bird may be placed in a puncture-resistant leak-proof plastic bag of appropriate size by inverting the bag over the hand, then grasping the carcass through the bag, and wrapping the bag around the bird without touching it.
    • Bury the dead bird several feet deep where they will not be disturbed.
  • Always dispose of dead bird in a manner such that no one could handle it again.
  • People handling birds (live or dead) should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately afterward. 

Additional resources

Contact Us