GNWT says bird flu found in Fort Smith herring gull

A herring gull in Fort Smith has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, the NWT government said on Thursday.

The GNWT said this marked the 16th confirmed case in the territory since 2022.

“The transmission risk to humans remains very low,” the territory stated, issuing guidelines for the handling of birds.

“While the transmission of bird flu to humans is rare and relatively mild in nature,” Thursday’s news release stated, “the NWT Chief Public Health Officer, Dr Kami Kandola, advises residents to remain cautious when handling wild birds that are found dead or appear sick.”