A good number of dead birds have been listed, according to the report that was carried out between Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles. A total of 870 common eider carcasses and nearly 200 gulls were found on the various islands visited last week by the Duvertnor Company. After the discovery of these along the St. Lawrence, analyzes were initiated. An exercise that finally revealed the presence of avian flu.
“We had tests done on five eider carcasses and five gull carcasses from Île Blanche, which were sent to Saint-Hyacinthe for PCR analysis. They have all been declared positive for the virus, ”says Jean-François Giroux, administrator at Duvetnor and professor of biology at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM).
Usually during this same period, there are between 10 and 15 dead birds. On White Island, 175 eider carcasses and 55 gulls were found. So the spread of avian flu, especially in animals, continues to be closely monitored by experts, analyzes are still in progress in order to collect results for Île aux Pommes and Île aux Basques, in particular, while more than 600 carcasses were discovered at these locations.
“We found a much larger than usual number of dead bird carcasses of gulls and especially eider ducks. The 10 samples we sent were declared positive for avian influenza. So, we can assume that the other birds also died from this disease. It should be remembered that eiders are also sensitive to epidemics. The last epidemic which was not influenza, but indeed avian cholera which is a bacterium, and not a virus, dates back to 2002. So, there is a history for these birds to be influenced by epidemics”, adds Mr. Giroux.
“There are the consequences that we see on the ground, but we should also find the cause of these epidemics and act”, explains for his part the guard and captain of the island to the Basques, Mikael Rioux.
Humans spared?
The risk of contamination in humans is rather low, but the authorities remind that dead wild birds should not be handled. It is recommended to notify the Ministry of Wildlife when a carcass is discovered.
“This risk is very low for human populations, except in some cases for those who work in poultry farms or slaughterhouses, therefore in very closed places. In a natural environment, where there is wind, the contamination of avian flu is very minimal. Moreover, on the islands, it is currently very difficult to bring the carcasses back to the mainland, due to navigation and the risk of further spreading the virus. For the moment, the carcasses will remain on the spot”, mentions Jean-François Giroux.
At the dawn of the summer season, this unusual event, which is also present elsewhere in Bas-Saint-Laurent and the Magdalen Islands, might have considerable impacts.
“For a place like Île aux Basques, I don’t think it will slow down tourism, but if you think of places where there are beaches like the Îles-de-la-Madeleine where people really go to these places to enjoy the beaches and swimming, it is certain that if the carcasses are not picked up and it continues, it might have an impact, ”he ends.
In the coming days, Quebec will draw up an official report on the number of carcasses found in Bas-Saint-Laurent. An observation that will provide a better overview of the problem.
