Alberta Health Services has ordered the closure of Butterfield Acres Petting Farm after nine cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were confirmed in poultry at the northwest Calgary facility last week.

The province says it was notified on Thursday that avian flu was detected at the popular farm in Foothills County, located at 254077 Rocky Ridge Rd. N.W.

According to Primary Care Alberta, the facility had voluntarily closed from Oct. 13 to 17. On Friday, AHS issued a formal closure order for the facility, which will remain in effect until public health inspectors and medical officers have deemed it safe to reopen.

While the virus primarily affects birds, rare human infections have occurred through close contact with infected animals, AHS says.

The risk to the public remains

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