H5 Virus Confirmed In P.E.I, Awaiting Results Confirming The Strain Type

While tests have initially confirmed the H5 virus in a dead goose on one P.E.I backyard farm, ongoing evaluation of birds on another seem to indicate that the influenza virus is not present. Testing results have not yet confirmed what strain of the H5 virus has been found in the province, however all early indications are that it is not the virulent Asian strain.

This is by no means the first positive H5 test in Canada. You may recall positive H5 test results from ducks in British Columbia back in November and August of 2005. Both of those test results showed the H5N2 strain present, but the tested ducks were otherwise healthy and subsequently banded and released back into the wild.

The P.E.I case does differ from the B.C. cases due to the actual deaths of 4 backyard geese, but all necessary containment measures and precautions are being taken to limit the possibility of an outbreak. The one area of citicism being levied on P.E.I for its handling of this bird flu concern centers on the issue of timing, specifically the lengthy delay in diagnosing the strain.

The delay in the release of information of the H5 detected in a dead goose on a free range backyard farm on Prince Edward Island is cause for concern. On June 4 four geese "waking funny" were observed and the next morning they were dead. Three were buried and one was brought in for testing and H5 was confirmed. However data on the pathogenicity of the isolate has been lacking, even though the birds have been dead for almost two weeks.

Test results confirming the strain is expected later today or Wednesday.

Avian flu signs not showing up at second farm [The Guardian]
H5 Positive Geese Raise Surveillance Concerns [Recombinomics]

( Add your comments )

Recent Entries:
· Pandemic Planning Could Give Your Business An Edge
· Toronto Aims To Be Leader In Public Health Education
· FAO Issues Dire Warning: Indonesia Could Be Brewing Pandemic-Inducing Virus

[ READER COMMENTS ]

(Note: separate multiple email addresses with commas)

H5 Virus Confirmed In P.E.I, Awaiting Results Confirming The Strain Type

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.