OIE: High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Infection with H5N1), Canada

Summary
Report type: Immediate notification
Started: 30 Jan 2022
Confirmed: 3 Feb 2022
Reported: 4 Feb 2022
Reason for notification: Recurrence
Last occurrence: 28 Jul 2015
Causal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N1
Nature of diagnosis: Clinical, laboratory
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.

New outbreaks
Total outbreaks (1)
Outbreak location: Western Nova Scotia, Kings, Subd. A, Kings, Nova
Scotia
Started: 30 Jan 2022
Epidemiological unit: Farm
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Birds / 11 800 / 6146 / 6146 / 0 / 0 / -

Affected population: NS-HPAIP-2022-001 Commercial turkey farm with 2
groups of 5900 birds each: 98% mortality in the 9-week-old birds and
6% mortality in the 3-week-old birds. The geographic coordinates do
not represent the actual location of the premises.

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: Unknown or
inconclusive, contact with wild bird
Epidemiological comments: On 30 Jan 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) was notified of high mortality in a commercial turkey
farm in Western Nova Scotia. The CFIA National Centre for Foreign
Animal Disease has confirmed that the virus was H5N1, similar to the
viruses reported in non-poultry and wild birds recently in the
provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. The virus has HA cleavage
site motif "PLREKRRK/GLF" consistent with highly pathogenic avian
influenza strains of H5 subtype. The HA gene segment is
A/goose/Guangdong/1996 (Gs/GD) lineage belonging to 2.3.4.4B clade.
Phylogenic analysis indicates this virus corresponds to the Eurasian
lineage circulating in 2021 in Europe. The CFIA has immediately
quarantined the infected farm and is implementing strict movement
controls and a stamping out policy. A protection zone (3 km)
and a surveillance zone (10 km) are being put in place
around the infected premises. Wildlife surveillance as well as the
Canadian Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) activities for
poultry are ongoing in Canada.

Control measures at event level
Domestic control measures applied: Traceability; quarantine;
surveillance within containment and/or the protection zone;
surveillance outside containment and/or the protection zone
Domestic control measures to be applied: Disinfection; official
disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste; stamping out; zoning
Wild control measures applied: Surveillance within containment and/or
the protection zone; surveillance outside containment and/or the
protection zone

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type / Species / Test / Outbreaks / Test date /
Result
National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), Winnipeg, Manitoba
(national laboratory) / Birds / Gene sequencing / 1 / 3 Feb 2022 /
Positive
National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), Winnipeg, Manitoba
(national laboratory) / Birds / Real-time reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) / 1 / 3 Feb 2022 / Positive