Avian Influenza
Wild birds have carried influenza viruses for hundred,
maybe even thousands of years without being ill. Avian
flu or bird flu has become more of a concern because of
a particular type of influenza virus known as the highly
pathogenic (HP) form of H5N1. It is possible that this
virus could be found in North America in the future and
likely will first appear in wild aquatic bird populations.
Even if wild birds become infected with the H5N1 virus,
the potential for people to become infected will remain
extremely low.
Avian or bird flu usually spreads from bird to bird. In
rare cases, people can get the disease from dealing with
infected chickens and other poultry. Properly cooking domestic
and wild poultry products kills the virus. Eating fully
cooked poultry and wild birds is not a health risk for people.
Hunters who harvest game for food can still continue to
hunt and cook wild game safely by taking simple
precautions.
 Manitoba,
which is on a major migratory route for wild bird populations,
is working cooperatively with the federal government and
other jurisdictions to ensure that surveillance efforts,
control measures and response plans are in place and ready
in the event that the HP H5N1 variety of avian flu
arrives in North America.
Manitoba, in 2005, participated in a wild bird survey to
assess the extent of influenza in wild ducks. Several ducks were found
to be carrying the North American strain of the virus
– not the HP version found in Asia and Europe.
No illness was found in duck populations in
Manitoba.
In 2006, Manitoba participated in a national wild
bird influenza survey. More than 1,000 hunter-harvested
wild geese were sampled for laboratory analysis. Results
indicated that none of the birds sampled carried the H5N1
virus.
Generally people should avoid handling wild
birds that are obviously sick or found dead. If sick or
dead waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans), or shorebirds (plovers,
sandpipers) are found, contact the Canadian
Wildlife Service at (204)984-6203 or contact Manitoba
Conservation at 1-800-214-6497 or 945-6784 in Winnipeg.
If handling the bird is unavoidable,
guidance
on precautions for the handling of wild birds is
available on the Public Health Agency of Canada's web
site.
Some sampling of birds will be done in Manitoba in 2007
as part of the national surveillance plan.
More
information on avian influenza is available on the
Province of Manitoba's web site.
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