Avian influenza has been found in wild ducks in Manitoba, but officials insist the positive tests represent no threat to public health.

The federal and provincial governments announced yesterday that H5 subtype influenza has been detected in five Manitoba ducks and 28 ducks in Quebec.

"It's important to clarify that the avian influenza virus is not new to wild birds," said Jim Clark of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who downplayed the discovery of H5 in Canada.

"Experts worldwide know that this virus in one form or another has circulated among wild birds around the world for hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years"

All five Manitoba ducks were from the Big Grass Marsh area north of Gladstone and would have been migrating south for the winter when they were tested earlier this fall, said Wayne Lees, Manitoba's chief veterinary officer.


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A further 87 Manitoba ducks tested positive for other influenza subtypes.

"These are results that should not raise alarm in anybody's mind," said Lees. "This survey didn't really uncover anything we didn't expect already."

Dangerous subtype

Analysis is being conducted at Winnipeg's National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases to see whether the H5N1 strain is present in Canada to determine if the healthy ducks are carrying the dangerous N1 subtype that has infected poultry in Asia and killed 62 people in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.

The results should be known later this week, but even if H5N1 pops up, there still may not be any cause for concern.

"Not all H5N1's are created equal," said Lees, who noted none of the infected ducks died or even got sick from the virus. "They just carry it."

The virus has governments around the world worried about a deadly bird flu pandemic that could infect millions of humans.

The Public Health Agency of Canada was quick to reassure Canadians that there have been "no known cases where the virus was transmitted to humans."

Clark stressed several times that the risk to humans is low.

"These findings do not indicate that we are dealing with a virus strain capable of causing significant illness," he said.

"For example, the evidence we've observed strongly indicates that these healthy birds were not infected with the same virus that is currently present in Asia."

While federal health officials have advised hunters to wear rubber gloves when cleaning wild birds, they also note that properly cooked meat poses no threat to human health.

Karen Armstrong, assistant manager with the Manitoba Chicken Producers, assured the public that properly cooked chicken is totally safe to eat, and that producers are being very careful to ensure their birds don't come into contact with wild birds.

"There's a tremendous amount of bio-security going on at these farms," said Wayne Morrison of Granny's Poultry.

In the Commons, Conservative public health critic Carol Skelton demanded the government detail its plan to deal with an outbreak of avian flu in Canada. She said the government wouldn't have a vaccine available until late next year.

Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said it would take time to isolate the virus strain.

Once that happens, he said, vaccine could be ready within five to six months. He cautioned the opposition to avoid sparking a panic.

By PAUL TURENNE, STAFF REPORTER

source: WinnipegSun