On March 21st, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1, in a sample taken from a red-tailed hawk found in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario. The hawk was reported to be showing neurological signs and was euthanized. Avian influenza is not a threat to food safety, and Ontario poultry and eggs are safe to eat when proper handling and cooking takes place. Avian influenza is not a significant public health concern for healthy people, not in routine contact with infected birds. People working with poultry are strongly encouraged to follow all public health guidelines and maintain strict biosecurity. AI viruses can infect people who come into contact with the virus via eyes, nose or mouth, or if the virus is inhaled through aerosols. There are regular reports of HPAI in wild birds across North America, including in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick), British Columbia, and 21 states within the United States. On March 15th, the CFIA confirmed the presence of HPAI, subtype H5N1, in a non-commercial flock in southern Nova Scotia, which followed two confirmations in Nova Scotia of HPAI subtype H5N1 on a commercial turkey farm on February 3rd, and HPAI, subtype H5N1 in a backyard flock on February 1st. Previous to the confirmations in Nova Scotia, the CFIA confirmed the presence of HPAI, subtype H5N1, in two small flocks located on the Avalon Peninsula on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador on January 9th and December 20th, 2021. Avian influenza is caused by an influenza type A virus, which can infect poultry. Such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl. It is carried by free-flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds. AI viruses are divided into subtypes based on the combination of two proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins (N1–N9). AI viruses are either high or low pathogenicity (HPAI and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), respectively) depending on the molecular characteristic of the virus and its ability to cause disease and mortality in domestic poultry. While both HPAI and LPAI can spread quickly through flocks, LPAI viruses can mutate into highly pathogenic strains, so it is important to manage outbreaks promptly. Birds become infected with AI when they directly contact diseased or carrier birds. Infected birds may shed the virus in their feces, contaminating the environment. The virus can survive for days in litter, feed, water, soil, dead birds, eggs and feathers. The disease spreads rapidly among birds in close confinement. AI can be brought into a poultry barn by breaches in biosecurity and is most often transmitted from one infected flock to another by the movement of infected birds or contaminated equipment or people. Implementing and adhering to biosecurity best management practices is critical to preventing the introduction and spread of the disease. Producer and owner diligence is pivotal to selecting, implement and maintain specific, effective biosecurity measures. The incubation period of AI can range between two and 14 days. Clinical signs of infected birds may include: • decrease in feed and water consumption, • extreme depression, • drop in production of eggs (many of which are soft-shelled or shell-less) • high and sudden morbidity and mortality rate, • signs of septicemia: hemorrhages on the hocks; severe edema of eyelids, wattle and combs; haemorrhagic enteritis
To reduce the probability of transmission of HPAI viruses from wild birds to domestic poultry, strict biosecurity measures should be implemented for all types of poultry holdings. Individuals are encouraged to report findings of dead waterfowl and shorebirds to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at CWHC: Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative. Avian influenza is a federally reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act. Attending veterinarians concerned about possible cases of AI in poultry should contact their local district CFIA office for further guidance. Avian influenza is also immediately notifiable by laboratories to OMAFRA under Ontario’s Animal Health Act. Attending veterinarians with questions related to poultry health may contact an OMAFRA veterinarian through the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300. Questions or concerns about human health should be directed to the local public health unit or physician.
Additional information is available at: CFIA – Avian influenza: Fact Sheet – Avian Influenza – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (canada.ca) CWHC- Avian influenza: CWHC: Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative Wild bird (National Wildlife Health Center) monitoring – North America: Current distribution of HPAI cases across North America Commercial flock outbreaks monitoring – North America: Track 2022 avian influenza outbreaks in North American poultry | WATTPoultry (wattagnet.com).