Canada discovers H5 avian flu virus in wild birds
Oct 31 4:08 PM US/Eastern
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The H5 avian influenza virus has been found in wild migratory birds in Canada, officials said, but it is unlikely the deadly H5N1 strain threatening Asia and Europe and there is no threat to human health.
The virus, whose subtype must still be determined, was detected in 28 ducks in the eastern province of Quebec and five in Manitoba in central Canada out of approximately 4,800 samples, said Jim Clark of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
"These findings do not indicate that we are dealing with a virus strain capable of causing significant illness. The evidence we've observed strongly indicates that these healthy birds were not infected with the same virus that is currently present in Asia," Clark said during a press conference.
The H5N1 bird flu virus has killed more than 60 people and prompted the culling of 140 million birds in Asia in the past two years.
In a statement, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the birds tested in the national survey were healthy, and there was "no evidence of influenza-related illness among domestic or wild birds in the test areas."
Tests continue to determine the N type of the virus.
More results are expected in the coming weeks. However, it may not be possible to definitively identify the virus subtype because researchers were not able to isolate a live virus from the samples, Clark said.
The study was conducted to look into the role migratory birds may play in the transmission of avian influenza, particularly the H5 and H7 strains which risk becoming more virulent if introduced into domestic poultry.
"The detection of H5 avian influenza is not unexpected," officials said in a statement, since various types and strains have been detected in North America over the past 30 years.
"It's important to clarify that the avian influenza virus is not new to wild birds. Experts worldwide know that this virus in one form or another has circulated among wild birds around the world for hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years," Clark said.
"These findings are not surprising given the natural prevalence of the virus in the wild population," he said, noting that the World Health Organization characterizes "this natural reservoir as benign and stable."
Nonetheless, the government agency has advised poultry producers to continue practicing strict biosecurity measures to ensure that commercial birds are not exposed to wild birds.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will closely monitor the health of wild and domestic birds in and around the tested regions, officials said.
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