Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed 12 people have been referred for testing and all “symptomatic workers” at Butterfield Acres Petting Farm are being tested after nine cases of Influenza A H5, commonly known as the avian flu, were identified in poultry.

The specific virus detected at the farm is the highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed to CBC News. No human cases are confirmed at this time, according to AHS.

Influenza A H5 primarily affects birds and while human infections are “extremely rare,” AHS will continue to monitor the situation closely. The agency is working to investigate workers and visitors to the farm between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12 who are presenting flu-like symptoms.

The Butterfield Acres Petting Farm vo

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