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Avian Influenza - Wild Bird Survey (2005)

In August 2005, a national survey of migratory waterfowl was initiated by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) with support from Environment Canada, the provinces, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada, to provide Canadian animal disease authorities with a better understanding of the strains of Avian Influenza (AI) influenza currently carried by migratory birds flying through Canada. The national survey includes samples from migratory birds along six flyways.

AI virus is commonly found in wild birds and the survey expectedly identified the presence of a number of AI subtypes including the H5 subtype. The H5 and H7 subtypes are of particular interest to animal health practitioners because of their potential to mutate and become highly pathogenic when introduced into domestic poultry flocks. The majority of AI subtypes are not known to pose significant animal or human health risks when found in wild birds, with the exception of, a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain currently circulating in Southeast Asia.

All of the AI viruses identified in the Canadian testing to date have been confirmed to be low pathogenic, North American strains. Confirmatory testing of H5 subtypes of avian influenza has been completed for samples collected in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Testing in Alberta found no evidence of the H5 subtype. Testing of samples recently collected in Newfoundland will be complete in the coming weeks. To view a summary of the survey results click here.