Abstract
In December 2014, the first detection in Canada of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) virus was reported in poultry within the Fraser Health Authority of British Columbia. It was the second outbreak of HPAI from Eurasian H5 reassortment viruses in North America. The Fraser Health Authority provided the lead public health coordination for this response as well as consultation and support to the occupational health response. The public health response focused on contact tracing, monitoring and follow-up for household, farm worker and other community contacts exposed on the affected farms. A total of 50 contacts were identified. Contacts received daily active monitoring by public health nurses for seven days from their last exposure and were advised to self-monitor until day 10. All contacts and other household members were recommended seasonal influenza vaccination to protect against further possible reassortment with human influenza viruses circulating within the community at the time. A total of 26 (52%) contacts were recommended chemoprophylaxis for ongoing exposure to the affected barns and flocks, of whom only 11 (42%) initiated this. During the seven-day active surveillance period, four contacts developed acute respiratory symptoms and influenza B was identified in one individual. Local area health care providers and acute care facilities were alerted to the outbreak and public messaging was provided regarding the human health risks from avian influenza. Collaboration between health and agriculture at the local, regional, provincial and federal levels was key to a rapid response to this outbreak.
Highlights
In December 2014, the first detection in North America of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) virus with Eurasian H5 lineage genes was reported in poultry within the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) of British Columbia (BC), Canada
The initial detection was followed by further reports of domestic and wild or captive bird infections with Eurasian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8, H5N2 and H5N1 reassortment viruses in the Pacific Northwest of the United States (US) in December 2014 and January 2015 and additional detection of the same novel highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 reassortment virus in poultry in the FHA in February 2015 (1,2)
This report provides details related to the public health response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N2 and H5N1 reassortment virus detections in poultry by the Fraser Health Authority
Summary
Local area health care providers and acute care facilities were alerted to the outbreak and public messaging was provided regarding the human health risks from avian influenza. Introduction In December 2014, the first detection in North America of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) virus with Eurasian H5 lineage genes was reported in poultry within the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) of British Columbia (BC), Canada.
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More From: Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada
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