Question Period Note: AVIAN INFLUENZA

Q1 - What is the Government of Canada doing about avian influenza and how is it protecting animal health and the spread of the disease? Q2 – How is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency responding to Avian influenza? Q3 – Does avian influenza pose risks to human health? Q4 – How does the Government support poultry producers? Q5 – What is the effect of avian influenza on the export of poultry and poultry products? Q6 – Does Canada allow importation of poultry from countries where Avian influenza is known to exist? Q7 – Have cases of potential transmission to mammals been detected? Q8 – Are vaccines available for Avian influenza?

R1 - Avian influenza outbreaks are occurring around the world in bird populations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in domestic birds in nine (9) out of ten provinces since December 2021. To date, PEI has not reported cases of HPAI in domestic poultry.
When avian influenza is detected, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency declares Primary Control Zones to help control the disease and any potential spread through movements of domestic birds, vehicles and other things that may spread the disease. R2 - Canada has a stamping out policy for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The intent of this policy position is to eliminate an outbreak in domestic flocks. As part of this policy, the CFIA responds to HPAI outbreaks by establishing movement controls, ordering the humane depopulation of all infected and exposed poultry, conducting trace-out activities, overseeing the cleaning and disinfection of premises and verifying that affected farms remain free of HPAI according to international standards.
The goal is to eliminate the high pathogenicity virus by humanely destroying susceptible domestic birds on infected premises, followed by disposal of contaminated products, as well as cleaning and disinfection of the infected premises.
The Government is collaborating with provinces, territories and stakeholders to identify and implement solutions to help minimize the impact of the disease on the poultry industry. R3 - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians and animals. The risk of human infection from avian influenza is considered to be low for the general public and low to moderate for those occupationally exposed. There have been no known human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada associated with the most recent outbreak and there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
There is also no evidence to suggest that cooked poultry or eggs are sources of avian influenza infection for people. R4 - The Government of Canada supports poultry producers across Canada and works to minimize both the animal health and economic impact of avian influenza when there is an outbreak.
When depopulation of birds is ordered under the Health of Animals Act, compensation may be paid to poultry owners for birds and other materials ordered destroyed such as bedding. R5 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to notify the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of all positive highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections. Following the most recent outbreak, trade restrictions have been implemented on certain poultry and poultry products. Some countries have implemented Canada-wide import restrictions while some have implemented provincial or zone-specific trade restrictions.
Canada is working with its key trading partners to share information on the outbreak and how it is being managed to minimize the impact of trade disruptions. R6 - Live birds and raw poultry products may not be imported from regions affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also imposes strict requirements on the import of animals and animal products from countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza is known to exist. R7 - In Canada, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in some mammals, such as mink, fox, skunk, bear, seal, dog, feral cat, raccoon and dolphin. Exposure may occur through consumption of infected bird carcasses or through a contaminated environment.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency collaborates with provincial, territorial and federal partners to report cases in mammals and monitor potential transmission between mammals.
While avian influenza H5N1 has caused large avian outbreaks globally over the last few years, the number of documented cases of avian influenza H5N1 in non-avian species, such as cats and dogs remains low. R8 - In anticipation of an internationally accepted vaccine for avian influenza becoming available in the future, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has established a highly pathogenic avian influenza Vaccination Task Force dedicated to studying the challenges and opportunities of a vaccination program. This task force serves as a forum for discussion and consensus building that brings together insights from veterinarians, experts from academia, industry representatives and government representatives on issues relating to the potential use of vaccination against HPAI in Canada. The Agency continues to engage in discussions with international trading partners about potential vaccination strategies to minimize any potential impact on trade should a vaccination program be implemented.

What is Avian influenza?
Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious viral infection that can affect several species of food producing birds as well as captive, pet and wild birds. AI viruses can be classified into two categories based on the severity of the illness caused in birds: low pathogenicity (LPAI) and high pathogenicity (HPAI) forms.
In Canada, HPAI and LPAI subtypes H5 and H7 are reportable under the Health of Animals Act and the Reportable Diseases Regulations. All suspected cases of AI must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Human health
AI viruses, are present globally and may, on rare occasions, cause disease in humans. Transmission to humans has occurred through close contact with infected birds or heavily contaminated environments. However, there have been no known human cases of HPAI in Canada associated with the most recent outbreak.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in mammals and wild birds
Avian influenza is being reported in bird populations worldwide. Outbreaks are occurring in the United States, Mexico and in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America.
Mammals such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, otters, seals, dolphins and bears have been infected with HPAI H5N1 during this global outbreak. Infection is thought to occur following consumption of infected bird carcasses or significant exposure to the virus within the environment. Many wild mammal infections have been severe and have resulted in respiratory and central nervous system involvement.
HPAI H5N1 has been detected in Canada in various mammals such as red foxes, skunk, seal, bear, wild mink, river otter and an Atlantic white-sided dolphin in 2022.
The CFIA's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease confirmed on April 1, 2023, that a domestic dog in Oshawa (Ontario) had tested positive for HPAI. It is the only case of its kind in Canada.
While avian influenza H5N1 has caused large avian outbreaks globally over the last few years, the number of documented cases of avian influenza H5N1 in non-avian species, such as cats and dogs remains low.
Current science suggests that the risk of humans contracting AI from an infected mammal (i.e., domestic dogs and cats or wildlife) is low; however, the potential role of mammals, domestic and wild, in human AI infection is not known. Appropriate precautions should be taken with any suspected or confirmed infected domestic or wild animals.
HPAI H5N1 has also been confirmed in wild birds in all provinces and territories.

Disease response
The CFIA responds to HPAI outbreaks by establishing movement controls, ordering the humane destruction of all infected and exposed poultry, conducting trace-out activities, overseeing the cleaning and disinfection of premises and verifying that affected farms remain free of HPAI according to international standards. Collectively these actions are referred to as a stamping out policy.

 
When responding to animal disease events, the CFIA takes the following steps:
• Movement control - Access to infected premises is controlled until the disease transmission risk from the premise is eliminated;
• Investigation - Collection of critical information from the premises is undertaken;
• Diagnostics - Laboratory diagnostics are performed by a CFIA approved laboratory and/or the CFIA National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease;
• Traceability - Gathering of information to determine where the virus came from and where it may have spread is attained;
• Depopulation – Infected Birds are ordered to be destroyed;
• Evaluation & Compensation – Reimbursement may be paid for animals and things ordered destroyed (Market value as determined by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food);
• Cleaning & Decontamination –performed by poultry farmers to further mitigate the risk of spread of the infective agent from the infected premises.

From December 2021 to November 22, 2023:

Cumulative Cases by Province
Newfoundland 2
Nova Scotia 6
New Brunswick 2
Quebec 50
Ontario 48
Manitoba 22
Saskatchewan 43
Alberta 74
British Columbia 146
Total 393

Poultry = 330 Non-Poultry = 63
Number of birds affected ~9,648,500

The Poultry and Non-Poultry numbers may not add up to the total number of cases because in some instances determination has not yet been made.
*These numbers represent both currently infected premises and previously infected premises (released premises)

Trade restrictions
Trade restrictions have been implemented on certain poultry and poultry products as a result of the most recent outbreak in 2022/23. Some countries have implemented Canada-wide import restrictions while some have implemented provincial or zone-specific trade restrictions.
The government continues to work with key trading partners to share information on the HPAI outbreak and to minimize the impact of trade disruptions.

Vaccination against HPAI
Canada has historically employed a stamping out policy when faced with avian influenza outbreaks. However, the scale and duration of the 2022 outbreak has compelled countries, including Canada, to explore the use of vaccination as an additional tool in the fight against HPAI.
International standards published by the WOAH support the use of vaccination against HPAI, with no trade restrictions, when adequate surveillance systems can support the country’s claim that it does not have the disease. Nevertheless, trade of poultry and poultry products from countries that employ vaccination may still be affected as importing countries may choose not to follow WOAH recommendations.
In collaboration with industry, academia/experts, other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, and international regulatory authorities, the CFIA is considering the challenges and opportunities associated with the development and use of vaccination against HPAI in addition to its existing stamping out policy.
The CFIA has established the Avian Influenza Vaccination Task Force to serve as a forum for discussion and information sharing on an approach to HPAI vaccination in Canada.

BC Poultry Association Federal Assistance Program (FAP)
• An investment of $1.81 million over three years to support BC Poultry Association’s preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the province.
• The BC Poultry Association represents the supply-managed regulated poultry sectors - chicken, turkey, table egg, and hatching eggs - on common issues to support the commercial poultry sector.
• Within BC there is a highly concentrated production zone in the Fraser Valley which is also located in the Pacific flyway for migratory birds and home to a significant number of wild birds year-round.
• This investment will enable industry-led destruction and biocontainment activities that will be completed with oversight from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) so that overall response capacity is expanded without increased risk for animal welfare or disease spread.
This investment will support the BC Poultry Association by:
1. Creating and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for comprehensive training, personal protection equipment (PPE) inventories and rotation, secondary destruction methods and hiring contractors;
2. Creating and tendering a contract for a primary supplier for destruction, biocontainment and training as well as secondary destruction capacity to assist if there is a surge in infected premises;
3. Developing a partnership with BC AgSafe to assist with worker safety during training and annual fit tests for workers requiring PPE; and
4. Developing and building strategic partnerships with BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, processors and allied trades for an effective HPAI response.
• In BC from April 2022 to April 2023, there were 104 commercial and small holding premises confirmed with HPAI, which resulted in the death of 3.677 million birds. In the national outbreak which began in December 2021, BC producers dealt with 37% of the infected premises and 53% of the impacted birds to date.
• The Lower Mainland (primarily in the Fraser Valley) is home to most of the poultry production in the province:
o 79% of the commercial chicken farms
o 70% of the commercial turkey farms
o 80% of the commercial egg farms
o 100% of the commercial hatching egg production
 

• The Government of Canada is taking measures to control premises where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been found in domestic birds.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency works in collaboration with other federal departments, the provinces and territories, industry and Canadian farmers to conduct surveillance activities to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic and wild bird populations.

• Poultry owners can protect their flocks by employing strict biosecurity measures on their property and immediately reporting any signs of illness to their veterinarian.