Canada discovers H5 avian flu virus in wild birds

H5 N1 bird flu virus could be the first 21st century pandemic

OTTAWA (AFP) - 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 H5 N1 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.

Europe is now dealing with its first cases of affected birds in Britain, Romania and Russia, plus Turkey.

China was hit Tuesday with its second outbreak of bird flu in a week and about a dozen countries in Africa, where experts believe the disease is likely to spread with the arrival of migratory birds from Europe and Asia, have imposed full or partial bans on imports of poultry and poultry products in recent weeks.

Scientists fear the fatal H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which is contracted through bird-to-human contact, could mutate into a virus spread from human to human, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Canada has had no confirmed reports of the bird flu virus that is deadly to humans, but Australia recently slapped a temporary ban on live bird imports from Canada after three racing pigeons imported from this country tested positive for antibodies for a strain of avian flu. The ban was lifted Wednesday.

In February 2004, an influenza strain H7N3 epidemic infected two million fowl in British Columbia province but was controlled in less than three months after the slaughter of 17 million birds, officials said.

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UPDATE

China reports new bird flu outbreak

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- China has responded to another outbreak of avian influenza with a cull of poultry in Liaoning Province in the northeast.

Xinhua, the official government news agency, reports that farmers in Heishan County have been ordered to complete killing their birds by Sunday.

The Australian Broadcasting Corp. reports that China blames migratory birds heading to Australia for the latest outbreak.

China has culled 350,000 birds and had millions more vaccinated. In the most recent outbreak, 9,000 birds were reportedly infected.

There have also been new outbreaks in Japan and Vietnam.

source: yahoo