A new serotype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in Canada, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reported.
Until now, all cases of HPAI in Canada since it first appeared in Newfoundland and Labrador one year ago have been of the H5N1 serotype. However, surveillance of wild birds has turned up an instance of an H5N6 infection, reported the WOAH.
A wild blue-winged teal in Winnipeg, Manitoba, was tested in August, but the recently released report revealed that the test results showed that the virus found in the bird was of the H5N6 serotype. The report indicated that the bird was still living, and did not offer information regarding euthanasia.
In the United States, all cases of HPAI have also been of the H5N1 serotype, with one exception. In October, WOAH reported that a backyard flock in Teton County, Montana, tested positive for the H5N4 serotype.
According to data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Manitoba has had 17 cases of HPAI in commercial poultry, with the most recent case being confirmed on October 26 in the rural municipality of Ritchot. CFIA also reported that four cases of HPAI have been confirmed in backyard poultry in the province. Manitoba has also had 65 confirmed cases of HPAI in wild birds in Manitoba, according to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC).
Other avian flu cases in Canadian wild birds
The province that has had the most confirmed cases of HPAI in wild birds in Quebec, with 185. Meanwhile, British Columbia, which has had the most cases of HPAI in commercial poultry operations at 74, has had the fewest cases in wild birds at 33.
In addition to HPAI being confirmed in wild birds in every province, all three Canadian territories have had the presence of the virus confirmed. The Yukon Territory has had the most with five, while Northwest Territories and Nunavut have each had one confirmed case.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
