Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Started: 4 Apr 2023
Confirmed: 19 May 2023
Reported: 24 May 2023
Reason for notification: unusual host species
Causal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N5
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory
This event pertains to the whole country.

Outbreak location: Queens, Prince Edward Island
Started: 4 Apr 2023
Epidemiological unit: not applicable
Animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Racoon (Northern raccoon) (wild) / - / 2 / 2 / - / - / -

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: contact with wild
species, unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments: this is the 1st report of highly pathogenic
avian influenza H5N5 in mammals in Canada. We previously reported wild
birds with wholly Eurasian H5N5 from Prince Edward Island and New
Brunswick (event 4754). We are now reporting 2 raccoons from Prince
Edward Island found dead. The geographical marker is on the capital.
For both raccoons, the virus contains wholly Eurasian genome segments.
For detailed and current information on high pathogenicity avian
influenza cases in wildlife, please consult:
http://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/avian_influenza.php.

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type / Species / Outbreaks / Test / Result date /
Result
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), National Centre for Foreign
Animal Disease (NCFAD), Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal
Health / Racoon (Northern raccoon) / Gene sequencing / 19 May 2023 /
Positive
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), National Centre for Foreign
Animal Disease (NCFAD), Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal
Health / Racoon (Northern raccoon) / Real-time reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) / 19 May 2023 / Positive