Report type

Immediate notification

Date of start of the event

06/02/2015

Date of confirmation of the event

13/04/2015

Report date

01/05/2015

Date submitted to OIE

01/05/2015

Reason for notification

New strain of a listed disease

Manifestation of disease

Sub-clinical infection

Causal agent

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

Serotype

H5N8

Nature of diagnosis

Laboratory (advanced)

This event pertains to

a defined zone within the country

Summary of outbreaks

Total outbreaks: 1

Outbreak Location

• BRITISH COLUMBIA ( Abbotsford )

Total animals affected

Outbreak statistics

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter; 
** Not calculated because of missing information;

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection

• Contact with wild species

Epidemiological comments

Canada conducts surveillance for avian influenza in wild birds. In addition, enhanced surveillance was undertaken in wild birds in response to the event in poultry (H5N2) in the province of British Columbia (BC) in December 2014. This sample was collected in February 2015 as part of the enhanced surveillance undertaken by BC. The sample was received from the BC provincial laboratory by the Canadian Food inspection Agency (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD) on 25 March 2015 for further testing. The results confirmed HPAI H5N8 virus with an IVPI of 2.73.
Sequencing of the H5N8 virus isolated indicates it is a wholly Eurasian H5N8 and very similar to the H5N8 virus that was isolated from the gyrfalcon in Washington State in December 2014. This is the first report of a H5N8 HPAI virus detection in Canada. This virus has NOT been found in commercial poultry anywhere in Canada. In accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code Article 10.4.1, Member Countries should not impose bans on the trade of poultry commodities in response to notification of influenza A virus in wild birds.

Measures applied

• Screening
• Vaccination prohibited
• No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied

• No other measures

Laboratory name and type

Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture ( Local laboratory )

Tests and results

Laboratory name and type

National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canadian Food Inspection Agency ( National laboratory )

Tests and results