All Resources

Avian influenza

Description

Avian influenza (AI), sometimes called “avian flu” or “bird flu,” is a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous systems of many bird species. Although... More ≫

Description

Avian influenza (AI), sometimes called “avian flu” or “bird flu,” is a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, digestive and/or nervous systems of many bird species. Although multiple strains of avian influenza have been detected in wild waterfowl for many years, the birds may not always show clinical signs of disease.

Tags

Surveillance for high pathogenic avian influenza in dead wild birds in Alberta, 2006

Description

Eighty-five wild birds found dead in Alberta during the summer 2006 were received as part of the provincial avian influenza surveillance programs. The dead bird program focused on waterfowl,... More ≫

Description

Eighty-five wild birds found dead in Alberta during the summer 2006 were received as part of the provincial avian influenza surveillance programs. The dead bird program focused on waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors found dead or reported as part of a mortality event in Alberta. In addition, a sample of found dead crows and magpies submitted as part of the West Nile virus surveillance program was tested for avian influenza. Two birds were unsuitable for testing. Of the remaining 83 birds, low pathogenic strains of avian influenza were found in 3 birds: 2 gulls and 1 mallard. Subtypes H5 and H7, which have the potential to develop highly pathogenic strains in domestic poultry, were not found in the dead wild birds tested as part of this program. There is no evidence that the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain causing mortality in parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa has arrived in North America.

Tags