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  Channel NewsAsia 26 Nov 05
35 wild birds with H5 avian flu virus found in eastern Canada

Channel NewsAsia 20 Nov 05
Canada discovers H5N1 avian flu virus in wild birds

OTTAWA - A low-pathogenic strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus has been discovered in wild migratory birds in the central province of Manitoba, Canadian officials announced Saturday.

The virus was not the same strain that killed more than 60 people and prompted the culling of millions of birds in Asia since 2003, said Brian Evans of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

"Canadians can rest assured that we have not detected the Asian strain of avian influenza of animal or human health concern," Evans said. "The strain detected in Manitoba is completely distinct from the strain currently present in Asia."

"None of these results, based on our assessment to date, are of significant animal or human health concern," he said.

Tests revealed low pathogenic strains of H5N9 in two birds and H5N2 in five birds in the western province of British Columbia, H5N1 in two birds from the central province of Manitoba and H5N3 in two birds from the eastern Quebec province, officials said. All of the viruses analyzed were "low pathogenic types", "very mild" and "non-virulent" and would produce "only mild disease if any at all if introduced into domestic birds," Evans said.

A lethal subtype of H5, H5N1, is blamed for the deaths of 67 people in Asia since late 2003. Scientists fear the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which can be contracted through bird-to-human contact, could mutate into a virus spread from human to human, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

The samples were gathered by the Canadian Wildlife Services as part of a cross-country testing of viruses carried by wild waterfowl, coordinated through the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre. The samples were taken from migratory birds, mostly mallards, in seven provinces and sent to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg for testing.

Evans said Canadian public health and food inspection agencies would expand their survey of wild birds, implement national testing of domestic birds at slaughter facilities, and remind bird owners to follow strict bio-security measures to restrict exposure of their flocks to wild birds.

But, these results should not prompt other countries to restrict the import of Canadian fowl or eggs, Evans added.

On Friday, Canadian officials announced the discovery of the H5 avian influenza virus in a single duck from a farm in British Columbia. Officials said there was no risk to human health and the duck showed no symptoms, but Canadian Food Inspection Agency personnel quarantined the farm as a precaution.

In 2004, an outbreak of the H7 strain of bird flu hit the area, about an hour east of Vancouver, forcing the culling of millions of domestic birds.

Officials speculated that the duck may have contracted the disease from migratory birds.

Channel NewsAsia 26 Nov 05
35 wild birds with H5 avian flu virus found in eastern Canada

OTTAWA - Canada has discovered the H5 avian influenza virus in 35 wild ducks and one case of the H7 virus in its eastern provinces, officials announced Friday.

The Canadian Wildlife Service made the discoveries during routine banding of some 710 migratory waterfowl around the Tantramar marshes near the borders of the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

It said all the birds were young and healthy. "These preliminary results do not indicate an increased threat to human health or commercial poultry flocks," officials said in a statement.

"Migratory birds are known to carry influenza viruses and it is unlikely the viruses are the same as those currently found in Asia and Europe."

"The Atlantic provinces share a common waterfowl migratory route so results from one area likely represent results for the entire region," officials said.

Further testing will be done at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg to determine the subtypes of the viruses. Earlier this month, tests revealed low pathogenic strains of H5N9 in two wild birds and H5N2 in five wild birds in the western province of British Columbia, H5N1 in two wild birds from the central province of Manitoba and H5N3 in two wild birds from the eastern Quebec province.

More recently, officials said they found a "significant concentration" of the H5 avian influenza virus on two poultry farms in British Columbia. All 57,800 ducks and 1,300 geese on the two farms were destroyed and 78 poultry operations within five-kilometres were placed under quarantine as authorities tried to build a "biological firewall" around the infected area.

A lethal subtype of H5, H5N1, is blamed for the deaths of about 70 people in Asia since late 2003. Scientists fear the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which can be contracted through bird-to-human contact, could mutate into a virus spread from human to human, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Taiwan, Hong Kong and the United States have banned poultry imports from British Columbia and Japan has imposed a nation-wide ban. - AFP /ls
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