Flu vaccination
 

The Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ) encourages workers in the avian and pork industry, in contact with animals or their carcasses, to take advantage of the human seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine is being offered free of charge to the entire population this year.  Learn more about this vaccination campaign, especially if you are one of the groups targeted by public health authorities.

Influenza circulates in the human population during the influenza season, while the presence of H5N1 avian influenza currently persists in birds in Quebec, and swine influenza circulates regularly in pigs. The simultaneous presence of these viruses increases the chances that they will be transmitted between animals and humans. The mixing of two viruses during an infection increases the likelihood that a virus will acquire characteristics of greater concern for animal and public health. Currently, avian influenza or swine flu viruses are rarely transmitted from animals to humans. If this happens, the virus usually affects workers who are in close contact with infected animals. There is no sustained transmission between people.

You are invited to continue your efforts to prevent swine flu and avian influenza on farms. The seasonal flu vaccine is an additional precaution to reduce the risk of transmitting human influenza.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was identified in Canada on December 20, 2021, in Newfoundland. Since then, many wild birds and poultry farms have tested positive in several Canadian provinces and the United States. To date, the presence of avian influenza has been detected in 47 bird farms in Quebec.