A new report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reveals that concerns remain about the spread of H5N5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in eastern Canada.
Since February 16, 2023, 50 wild birds have tested positive for H5N5 in the following provinces: Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Québec.
The most recently confirmed cases were in Nova Scotia. Nine birds – including one Iceland gull, three herring gulls and five great black-billed gulls were affected. Other bird species to have earlier been affected by H5N5 in Canada include northern harriers, American crows, northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes.
Cases of H5N5 in several species of mammals have also been confirmed, including raccoons in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, striped skunks in Prince Edward Island and red foxes in Nova Scotia.
No province west of Quebec has had any confirmed H5N5 cases, nor have any of the country’s territories, according to WOAH reports.
To date, no commercial poultry flocks in Canada have been affected by the H5N5 strain of the virus, and it has now been seven months since the country has had any cases of H5N1 HPAI – the dominant strain in North American commercial poultry cases – have been confirmed.
Wildlife surveillance as well as the Canadian Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) activities for poultry are ongoing in Canada.
View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.
To learn more about HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
