Heather Wright/The Independent

There is another avian flu outbreak in Lambton County.

Tuesday, Lambton Public Health said it is investigating a second confirmed report of avian influenza in birds in Lambton County.

The investigation is separate from the investigation announced March 14 at a Petrolia area poultry farm officials said in a news release.

Last week, the virus was found in a commercial poultry operation near Petrolia. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency placed restrictions around the farm.

The commercial security zone near Petrolia is bound by Churchill Line to Oakdale Road to Lasalle Line to Wanstead Road to Petrolia Line, up to Gypsy Flats to Oil Heritage Road. Industry vehicles, like those used for feed deliveries, will be the only vehicles allowed in the commercial security zone.

The wider protective zone stretches from Reeces Corners down to Shiloh Line near Inwood west to Fairweather Road and east to Suitorville Road and includes the Town of Petrolia. It’s a roughly 10 kilometre area around the infected area. 

Any movement of birds in this area has to receive a permit from CFIA.

CFIA has yet to release information about the security zones around the second site. We do know it is also a commercial poultry farm. Public health says the two outbreaks are not related.

After a suspected avian flu case is identified, the access to the farm is blocked off with staff using personal protective equipment in the barns, according to information from the Chicken Farmers of Ontario. 

CFIA officials head up the investigation and oversee the culling of the flock, the disposal of the dead birds, the cleaning and disinfection of the barns. The provincial agency is also notified so other poultry farmers are aware of the presence of avian flu. 

The virus can live for very long periods of time, up to three months according to the Chicken Farmers of Ontario. Barns where avian flu is detected can be empty for months while the decontamination process takes place. 

Public health deals with the human side effects of the deadly bird virus. 

So far, officials said in a news release, no human cases of the virus have been reported. Public health inspectors are following up with people who worked with the birds to make sure they’re healthy.

“The risk of avian influenza continues to remain low for the general public, however we would like to once again remind those who work with sick animals or in contaminated environments – such as farmers – to take precautions when interacting with or handling birds,” said Dr. Karalyn Dueck, Medical Officer of Health for Lambton County in a news release.

There have been 11 avian flu outbreaks in Ontario this year – the latest were March 14 in Lambton and in the Municipality of Middlesex Centre Feb. 28.