Highly pathogenic avian influenza,
Canada
Information received on 03/12/2014 from Dr Martine Dubuc, OIE Delegate for Canada, Chief Food Safety Officer Vice-President, Science Branch, Health Ministry, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Canada
Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Date of start of the event 30/11/2014
Date of confirmation of the event 01/12/2014
Report date 03/12/2014
Date submitted to OIE 03/12/2014
Date event resolved 25/03/2015
Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 01/2008
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Avian influenza virus
Serotype H5
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Related reports Immediate notification (03/12/2014)
Follow-up report No. 1 (09/12/2014)
Follow-up report No. 2 (12/12/2014)
Follow-up report No. 3 (19/12/2014)
Follow-up report No. 4 (08/01/2015)
Follow-up report No. 5 (21/04/2015)
Follow-up report No. 6 (05/06/2015)
New outbreaks (2)
Outbreak 1 (BC-2014-NAI-001) Chilliwack, British Columbia
Date of start of the outbreak 30/11/2014
Outbreak status Resolved (07/03/2015)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Birds 12800 700 700 12100 0
Affected population BC-2014-NAI-001 Chicken broiler breeder farm. The affected barn holds a flock of 24 weeks of age (10% mortality). An adjacent barn, not affected, contains a flock of 47 weeks of age.
Outbreak 2 (BC-2014-NAI-002) Abbotsford, British Columbia
Date of start of the outbreak 30/11/2014
Outbreak status Resolved (05/03/2015)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Birds 28000 7700 7700 20300 0
Affected population BC-2014-NAI-002 Meat turkey farm Affected barn: 83 days of age toms (70% mortality). In addition, hens and 2 week old poults on the premises with normal mortality rate.
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 2
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
Birds 40800 8400 8400 32400 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Birds 20.59% 20.59% 100.00% 100.00%
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments Important note: Although this event is reported as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), full subtyping and pathogenicity index (IVPI) are not yet completed. Reporting as HPAI is based on preliminary testing and clinical signs. Sudden high mortality (10% in outbreak in Chilliwack and 50% in outbreak in Abbotsford) within 24-48 hrs. Preliminary testing done at the British Columbia Provincial Laboratory indicates presence of H5 avian influenza virus. Additional testing currently underway at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD).
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • Vaccination prohibited
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • Movement control inside the country
  • Screening
  • Disinfection / Disinfestation
  • Stamping out
  • Zoning
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture (Local laboratory) Birds real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 01/12/2014 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations