WattAgNet: OIE: Ontario avian influenza outbreak confirmed H5N2

Serotype confirmed in earlier reported avian influenza case involving Ontario turkey farm
Release Date: 2015-04-09
An outbreak of avian influenza in an Ontario turkey flock reported on April 7 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been confirmed to be of the H5N2 serotype, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

CFIA had earlier stated that the outbreak, which occurred near Woodstock, Ontario, was a case of H5 avian influenza, but the agency had not verified its exact serotype. H5N2 avian influenza has been prevalent in nine avian influenza cases in bordering Minnesota, as well as two confirmed cases in South Dakota. OIE stated that the Ontario outbreak could have been spread through wild birds in the Mississippi flyway, which includes Minnesota, but added that it was doubtful it was related to earlier Canadian avian influenza outbreaks in British Columbia that began in December 2014.

According to OIE, one of four barns on the premises was infected. The outbreak was responsible for the death of about 9,000 turkeys on the farm. An estimated 45,000 turkeys at the farm were susceptible.

CFIA has quarantined the infected farm and is implementing strict movement controls and a stamping out policy.

To date, Ontario and British Columbia are the only Canadian provinces to have confirmed cases of avian influenza.