Authorities Track Spread of Avian Flu in Arctic Mammals
Wildlife Officials Expand Testing Amid Avian Flu Spread in Arctic Animals
Wildlife officials in Nunavut are ramping up testing for avian flu in various animal species after the territory’s first confirmed case this year. On October 3, a northern fulmar near Resolute Bay tested positive for a strain linked to Greenland, according to Jon Neely, operations co-ordinator for Nunavut’s wildlife division.
Although bird flu cases have emerged in the Arctic since the outbreak began in 2022, Neely says the virus is not believed to be widespread in the region. However, global reports of avian flu spreading to mammals, including Arctic species, are raising new concerns.
Brian Stevens, a wildlife pathologist with the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, notes that avian flu’s spread to cattle in the U.S. marks a significant shift in the virus’s behavior. “There have been more human contacts and infections related to dairy cattle outbreaks,” Stevens said, emphasizing the risks of viral mixing between avian and human influenza strains.
Earlier this month, Canada reported its first domestically acquired human case of avian flu, tied to a poultry outbreak in British Columbia. However, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) clarified that this outbreak is unrelated to U.S. cattle infections. Since 2022, the virus has affected 12 wild mammal species and over 100 wild bird species across Canada, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
In Nunavut, wildlife testing has so far found no positive cases in five lemmings, while results are pending for a single seal. Officials are urging hunters to report and safely collect samples from sick animals for further testing.
Risk to Humans and Country Food
Nunavut’s Department of Health reassures residents that the risk of avian flu transmission to the general public remains low. The virus is not transmitted through fully cooked bird meat or eggs. However, eating raw or undercooked country food poses potential risks.
Signs of infected animals include disorientation, head swelling, shaking, and diarrhea. Officials advise avoiding contact with sick or dead wildlife. Neely encourages hunters to double-bag samples using tools like shovels, while wearing gloves, masks, and eye protection to minimize risk.
“Testing is essential,” Neely emphasized, “but safety comes first when handling potentially infected animals.”
