Recently, the World Health Organization issued an update confirming that a number of people in the People's Republic of China were infected by a type of avian influenza virus identified as A(H7N9).
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is committed to protecting human and animal health and is working closely with Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to monitor the situation in China.
Avian influenza does not affect food safety. The strain of H7N9 avian influenza causing illness in people in China has not been identified in birds in Canada. In addition, Canada does not import raw poultry products or live birds from the People’s Republic of China.
The CFIA in collaboration with provinces, industry groups and other stakeholders, closely monitors commercial poultry and wild birds in Canada for avian influenza viruses.
For additional information on illnesses visit the PHAC website at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
