Bird Flu :: No Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza found in Canada

Canada’s second annual Wild Bird Survey for Avian Influenza (AI) has concluded with more than 12,000 birds tested and no findings of highly pathogenic strains of AI, including the Asian strain of H5N1.

Samples for this year’s survey were collected from migratory and resident, live and dead, birds across Canada. Additional sampling was conducted in Iceland which is a mingling point for birds from North America and Europe.

Early detection of the influenza virus represents Canada’s first line of defence. Moreover, the survey provides animal health authorities with a deeper understanding of the presence and characteristics of influenza viruses circulating in wild birds. Through a better understanding of the viruses and its transmission, Canada is better able to deal with potential AI threats to human and animal health.

Similar to the 2005 survey, this year’s survey found various AI subtypes including H5 subtypes, which, along with H7 subtypes, are of particular interest to animal health practitioners due to their potential to be highly pathogenic, or cause illness and death, in domestic poultry. Finding avian influenza viruses in wild birds is not unexpected. Influenza viruses commonly circulate in wild birds with little or no impact on the health of the birds or other species.

Canada continues to monitor global AI developments very closely, particularly the spread of the Asian strain of H5N1 AI. This strain, which is currently circulating in Asia, Africa and Europe, has demonstrated the ability to affect poultry and wild birds as well as humans and other mammalian species. While the Asian H5N1 strain has not been detected in North America, Canada and the United States will continue to coordinate surveillance efforts to provide an early warning in the event that the virus is carried to this continent via wild birds.

Surveillance in wild birds is one of a series of AI prevention and preparedness initiatives the Government of Canada has implemented in partnership with provincial/territorial governments, industry and animal and public health practitioners.

Canada’s wild bird survey is a cooperative effort involving the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC), non-governmental organizations and academia.


Leave a Comment