Maritime results for avian influenza in waterfowl released

Preliminary testing of 710 healthy, wild, migratory ducks in the Maritime Provinces has revealed 35 positive results for the H5 avian influenza virus.

Bird sample collection is expected to start late in November in Newfoundland and Labrador in the St. John�s area (Quidi Vidi Lake) and results will be announced once completed.

The Maritime preliminary results do not indicate an increased threat to human health or commercial poultry flocks.

The survey samples, taken from young, live and healthy birds, were collected by the Canadian Wildlife Service during routine banding of migratory waterfowl. The survey is a joint initiative of the federal and provincial governments through the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre. These preliminary results, which were carried out at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, PEI, are similar to findings in other areas of Canada.

Many of the ducks were from the Tantramar marshes near the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border. Although no bird sample collection has occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador to date, the Atlantic provinces share a common waterfowl migratory route so results from one area likely represent results for the entire region.

The positive samples have been sent to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg to confirm the preliminary results and to further determine the subtypes of the viruses. This analysis would also rule out the virus strain currently present in Asia and Europe. Migratory birds are known to carry influenza viruses and it is unlikely the viruses are the same as those currently found in Asia and Europe. Results will be available soon.

Federal and provincial governments will continue to monitor the health of wild and domestic birds. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a general notice to poultry producers, reminding them to always follow strict biosecurity practices.

For more information on testing results and avian flu see the Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

For more information contact:

Dr. Hugh Whitney, Provincial Veterinarian, Natural Resources, (709) 729-6879

Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust, Atlantic Veterinary College, P.E.I., (902) 566-0667

CFIA Media Relations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, (613) 228-6682

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 685-4624

2005 11 25                       1:20 p.m.