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Quebec, Canada: H5N1 in wild birds and seals

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  • #16
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    • #17
      Translation Google

      The Manicouagan does not escape dead birds

      By Charlotte Paquet 8:52 AM - 16 June 2022

      The phenomenon of dead or dying birds has reached Manicouagan. Discoveries have been reported, including that of a citizen of Pointe-Lebel, Sylvie Charest, who found three on the beach in the Pointe-Paradis sector.

      It was while looking for her cat on Sunday June 12 that the Lebeloise came across a first dead bird in a state of decomposition. Then a little further, another was dying. It was a Common Eider.

      “I went home to get some gloves and put them in a box. I took him away until I found a solution. It was not dead, but not strong,” underlines Ms. Charest who, the next day, also discovered another dead gull.

      As early as Sunday, the lady tried to contact wildlife protection officers, but after waiting an hour on the phone, she gave up. She finally managed to speak to someone on Tuesday morning and that same afternoon an officer was on site to collect the three birds. The one who was still dying was euthanized.

      Dead birds were also discovered in Ragueneau and the analysis of specimens confirmed that avian flu was involved, Sylvie Charest was told. "We consider that avian flu has spread to most regions of Quebec where there are migratory birds," said Daniel Labonté, spokesman for the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.

      Le phénomène des oiseaux morts ou agonisants a atteint la Manicouagan. Des découvertes ont été rapportées, dont celle d’une citoyenne de Pointe-Lebel, Sylvie Charest, qui en a trouvé trois sur la plage du secteur de Pointe-Paradis. C’est en cherchant son chat dans la journée du dimanche 12 juin que la Lebeloise est tombée sur un […]
      "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
      -Nelson Mandela

      Comment


      • #18



        Translation Google

        June 29, 2022

        Follow the bird picking operation

        In recent weeks, many Gannets have been found dead or sick on the territory of the Magdalen Islands. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ) and the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) confirm that the mortality of its birds is due to avian influenza.

        A first clean-up operation was coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment at the beginning of June. Unfortunately, new birds are found on the beaches and a new cleaning operation coordinated by the Maritime Community of the Islands began on June 16.


        Beach cleaning

        This web page will be updated daily to keep you informed of the beaches where the contractor will be. If you see dead birds on a beach that is not listed here, it means that it has not yet been cleaned and that the contractor in charge of the contract will go soon. If you see dead birds on a beach that appears lower, it means that it has already been cleaned but that other birds have come to die there.

        Please note that the Maritime Community will follow up on the state of the beaches in mid-July to reassess the situation.

        Daily report of operations:
        • June 15: cleaning of 4 km of beach from Anse-aux-Baleiniers, 4 carcasses collected
        • June 16: cleaning of 12 km of beach at the Dune du Nord (up to the barge), 226 carcasses collected
        • June 17: cleaning of 4 km of beach at the Dune du Nord, 101 carcasses collected
        • June 17: cleaning of 10 km of beach by municipal teams on about fifteen small beaches, 30 carcasses collected
        • June 20: cleaning of 8 km of beach at Dune du Nord (Grosse-Île), 249 carcasses collected
        • June 21: cleaning of 5 km of Grosse-Île beach, 199 carcasses collected
        • June 22: cleaning of 6 km of beach at Pointe de l'Est, 129 carcasses collected
        • June 23: cleaning of 4 km of beach at the Grande Échouerie, 290 carcasses collected
        • June 27: cleaning of 14 km of beach at the Grande Échouerie, 838 carcasses collected
        • June 28: cleaning of the beaches of chemin des Pealey, Bassin Ouest, Bassin Est and 3 km in Dune du Sud, 218 carcasses collected
        • June 29: cleaning of 8 km of beach at the Dune du Sud, 286 carcasses collected
        • June 30: cleaning of 6 km of beach at the Dune du Sud, 825 carcasses collected
        • July 1: cleaning of 5 km of beach at the Dune du Sud, 211 carcasses collected
        Cleaning of private grounds

        If a bird is dead on private land, follow the MAPAQ procedure to pick it up and throw it in a container designated by the Municipality (see below):
        • Wear disposable gloves if you have them. Use a double plastic bag.
        • Reach into the bag and grasp the carcass through the bag. Gradually turn it over the carcass, gently lifting it to fit it completely into the bag without touching it.
        • Tie the bag.
        • Put the gloves in your black bin and bring the bag containing the carcass in the identified container provided to one of the following places:
          • At the Capitol of the East
          • At the Grosse-Île barracks
          • At CGMR
          • At the municipal garage of L'Étang-du-Nord
          • At the municipal garage of L'Île-du-Havre-Aubert
          • At the L'Île-d'Entrée transshipment site
        • Wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose before washing your hands.
        For information about avian influenza in general, see the government website.


        Depuis quelques semaines, de nombreux Fous de Bassan ont été retrouvés morts ou malades sur le territoire des Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Le ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du…
        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
        -Nelson Mandela

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        • #19
          Translation Google

          Avian flu affects harbor seals in the Estuary

          HELENE FAUTEUX
          Tuesday, 12 July 2022 09:40
          UPDATE Tuesday, 12 July 2022 09:40

          According to Stéphane Lair, professor of wildlife health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal, a dozen carcasses tested positive last week.

          The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has so far confirmed two of these results, he said. "Our results are theoretical until they are officially confirmed by the CFIA," said Dr. Lair. It's a skill-testing question, because it's a virus. But there is no doubt about the cause of death of these animals.

          In fact, according to monitoring data from the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Network, which brings together some fifteen organizations and institutions in Quebec, the mortality rate for harbor seals in the Estuary is eight times higher than the average. historical.

          “We are talking about a hundred harbor seals, carcasses, which have been found in recent months, reported the UdeM professor. A few animals still alive have been observed with neurological signs, nervous signs. But most are found dead.

          Stéphane Lair believes that the harbor seals in the Estuary have been contaminated by Common Eiders, with whom they share the same rocks. “We are not certain, but we think it is a direct contact with the Eiders because there have been a lot of cases in Bas-Saint-Lauren in Common Eiders, and the seals are not known to eat birds.

          However, no case of avian flu has been reported in seals in the Magdalen Islands or in Gaspésie.

          "My suspicion is that there's less contact between gannets and seals," Lair said. For now, we are concentrating our efforts on the Estuary. That being said, we are monitoring the situation, we have volunteers on the Islands, and if ever there were increased, unusual mortalities, we should be able to set up a system to be able to collect samples.

          https://www.journaldequebec.com/2022...s-de-lestuaire

          ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Avian flu hits St. Lawrence seals


          The harbor seal is a resident species of the St. Lawrence. It is the least abundant of the four species of seals that frequent the estuary and the gulf.

          Alexander Shields
          3:24 p.m.
          Environment

          The bird flu didn't just kill thousands of birds in Quebec. It also led to a marked increase in mortalities among harbor seals in the St. Lawrence. The impact that these mortalities will have on the pinniped population remains to be determined.

          The Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Network has identified an unusually high number of dead or sick harbor seals in the St. Lawrence so far this year. A total of 93 carcasses have been found so far, including 73 in June alone.

          "In fact, the number of harbor seals found so far this year represents an increase of about eight times the annual average of recent years," said veterinarian Stéphane Lair, director of the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health, in a text published Tuesday on the “Healthy Wildlife” blog .

          In an attempt to understand this marked increase in deaths, seal carcasses and samples taken in the field were sent for analysis to the regional center for Quebec of the Canadian Wildlife Health Network.


          "The results obtained so far indicate that the increase in mortalities observed in these harbor seals would be associated with infections by the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus", writes Dr. Stéphane Lair. These results should be confirmed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada shortly.

          “Although the risks of transmission of this influenza virus to humans and domestic animals seem low, it is recommended not to approach, and especially not to touch, a sick or dead seal. We will also prevent contact between our pets and seals or dead birds,” emphasizes Stéphane Lair.

          For the moment, the impacts of these mortalities on the population of harbor seals remain to be determined, according to the veterinarian. This species is the only one to remain all year round in the St. Lawrence. It is also the least abundant of the four species that frequent the estuary and the gulf. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, there are between 20,000 and 30,000 harbor seals. They can be victims of harassment , especially on the beaches, where the females give birth.

          Dead birds

          For now, the positive cases in harbor seals all come from the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, a region where several cases of avian flu have been identified in wild birds. This virus has caused the death of thousands of birds of several species in Quebec, including snow geese, Canada geese, common eiders and northern gannets. Several species that feed on dead infected birds, such as turkey vultures, bald eagles, corvids and gulls, have also been affected.

          In the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, more than 5,000 bird carcasses have been collected so far, while the period of high tourist traffic is in full swing. The imposing colony of northern gannets on Bonaventure Island, which numbers more than 100,000 individuals, is also affected by avian flu.

          According to the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, “it must now be considered that the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus has spread to all regions of Quebec”. The pan-Canadian website, which monitors the development of avian influenza, also shows that the virus is indeed present on a large scale in Quebec. In particular, cases have been identified in the Montreal region, in Estrie, in Mauricie, in the Quebec region and in Lac-Saint-Jean.

          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
          -Nelson Mandela

          Comment


          • #20
            Minganie

            -----------------------------------------------

            Translation Google

            “Moyaks” and gulls dead from avian flu in Minganie, but no puffins

            July 26, 2022 John St-Pierre Home , News

            Sixty-six birds have been found dead this season in the Mingan Archipelago. These are mostly common eiders commonly known as "moyak", and gulls, but no Atlantic puffins. In Quebec, the avian flu epidemic has killed thousands of birds, mainly affecting marine species.

            The common eider is the most abundant species on the islands off Havre-Saint-Pierre and Mingan. The two puffin colonies that are very popular with visitors to the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada are in good health, with 830 individuals inventoried.

            Under surveillance

            Resource Conservation Manager Aurore Pérot is concerned about the situation, but not worried. “Bird mortalities are on the rise this year. The portrait remains incomplete considering that Mingan Park extends over 152 km.

            Parks Canada staff in Minganie monitor the situation and report each carcass to the Quebec Department of Wildlife. Awareness is raised with visitors.

            More worrying in Gaspésie

            The Îles-de-la-Madeleine Archipelago and the northern gannet colony on Bonaventure Island and Rocher Percé are the most affected. More than 5,000 carcasses have been found since mid-June in the Magdalen Islands.

            Government of Quebec scientists estimate that the avian influenza virus is rife in all regions. There is no more countdown. Northern gannets, eider ducks, sea gulls, snow geese and bustards are the most affected by the epidemic.

            Soixante-six oiseaux ont été retrouvés morts cette saison dans l’Archipel-de-Mingan. Il s’agit surtout d’eiders à duvet communément appelé «moyak», et de goélands, mais aucun macareux moine. Au Québec, l’épidémie de grippe aviaire a tué des [...]
            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
            -Nelson Mandela

            Comment


            • #21
              Translation Google

              THE HARBOR SEAL OF THE ST. LAWRENCE AFFECTED BY THE AVIAN FLU

              Last June, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Network (RQUMM) received an abnormally high number of reports of dead or sick seals. The analyzes carried out have indeed revealed the presence of the bird flu virus in harbor seals, a disease that has been raging in wild bird populations across the country since the beginning of the year.

              Figures that have sounded the alarm

              What caught the attention of the speakers? The RQUMM has counted 93 harbor seal carcasses since the beginning of the year, ie 3 times more than a record year, and 6 times more than an average year. In June alone, this figure rises to 65 carcasses. Avian flu was quickly suspected of playing a role in this increase in mortality. The RQUMM therefore recovered and sampled fifteen carcasses, and everything was sent to the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health for analysis. The results show that 11 of the 15 harbor seals sampled had the Eurasian strain of avian influenza; H5N1 (HPAI). A highly pathogenic strain that is easily transmitted from animal to animal and causes severe disease. ...

              Avian flu, just in birds?

              The name of this strain can be confusing! In Canada, the disease affects species such as gannets, Canada geese, snow geese, common eiders, gulls, turkey vultures, corvids, bald eagles and several species of farmed birds. However, it is known that this strain of influenza can be transmitted from birds to mammals. In the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has also confirmed the presence of this virus in seals stranded in Maine. In North America, H5N1 has also infected other species of mammals. Among others, raccoons, otters, lynxes, red foxes, striped skunks and two humans.

              Experts do not know precisely how the virus was transmitted from birds to harbor seals. The proximity of the two species on the haulouts could have favored close contact between them and exposed the seals to bodily fluids and feces from infected birds. It is not yet known for sure whether the virus can be transmitted between seals.

              ...
              En juin dernier, le Réseau québécois d’urgence pour les mammifères marins (RQUMM) a reçu un nombre anormalement élevé de signalements concernant des
              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
              -Nelson Mandela

              Comment


              • #22
                Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/9034535/q...u-seal-deaths/

                Highly pathogenic avian influenza believed to be killing seals in Quebec
                By Staff The Canadian Press
                Posted August 3, 2022 2:24 pm
                Updated August 3, 2022 3:22 pm

                Quebec researchers say avian flu has been detected in at least two species of seal as an unusually high number of dead seals are being reported on the province’s shorelines.

                The Reseau québécois d’urgences pour les mammiferes marins says about 100 carcasses of harbour seals were found since January along the south shore of the Lower St. Lawrence region, almost six times more than on an average year.

                Stéphane Lair, a professor of veterinary medicine at Université de Montréal, says about 15 of these harbour seals have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1, with a first case detected in grey seals last week.

                He says seals most likely have been in contact with carcasses of infected eider ducks, with which they share the same islands to give birth at the beginning of the summer.

                Jean-François Gosselin, a biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, says these are the first reported cases of the virus being passed from wild birds to marine mammals in Quebec...

                Comment


                • #23
                  Translation Google

                  CASES OF AVIAN FLU DETECTED IN SHERBROOKE

                  Posted by Jasmine Grégoire | Aug 10, 2022 | Regional News


                  The presence of avian flu has been detected on the territory of the city of Sherbrooke. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec as well as the Ministry of Wildlife and Parks confirm the presence of wild birds infected with avian influenza. The virus is only rarely transmitted from animals to humans, but citizens are urged to be vigilant for the presence of dead animals. People with a chicken coop should also be careful. Avoid contact with farmed and wild birds and report dead wild birds.

                  Among the preventive measures that can be put in place, we note the cleaning of the facilities, equipment and clothing used when visiting a chicken coop. The number of cases present on the territory of the city of Sherbrooke has not been confirmed by MAPAQ for the moment.

                  La présence de la grippe aviaire a été détectée sur le territoire de la ville de Sherbrooke. Le ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec ainsi que le ministère de la Faune et des Parcs confirment la présence d’oiseaux sauvages atteints de l’influenza aviaire. Le virus ne se transmet que rarement des […]


                  -------------------------------------------

                  August 10, 2022 1:00 a.m.
                  Updated at 2:00 a.m.

                  Birds affected by avian flu in Sherbrooke

                  Remi Leonard
                  The gallery

                  The discovery of wild birds affected by avian flu in Sherbrooke has prompted the authorities to call on the population of the region to be cautious, particularly those who have a chicken coop at home.

                  “The risk for birds of contracting the avian influenza virus is currently high,” warns the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec (MAPAQ). However, he specifies at the same time that no new case has been detected in Estrie farms since last April.

                  Informed of the situation by MAPAQ and the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP), the City of Sherbrooke issued a communication on Tuesday inviting people to prevent the spread of the disease. Vigilance is particularly required for owners of urban hens in the territory.

                  Recommendations

                  The Society for the Protection of Animals in Estrie, which raises awareness in particular among owners of chicken coops, recalls a few recommendations in order to minimize the risks. It is essential to avoid any contact between your animals and wild birds, for example by keeping water and food inside the henhouse, in addition to frequently cleaning the facilities, equipment and clothing used. The virus is rarely transmitted from animals to humans, although humans may contribute to the spread, authorities say.

                  Barn owners are also advised to watch their birds for symptoms, including lack of energy and appetite, decreased egg production and laying many eggs with soft shells or no shells, swelling of the head, eyelids, crest, wattles and hocks, diarrhea, lack of coordination, or sudden death, details the City of Sherbrooke.

                  Contacted by La Tribune , the MFFP could not specify on Tuesday how many cases were identified in Sherbrooke and when these dated. On the online map of reports listed by federal authorities, a single case of an infected wild bird appeared in Sherbrooke as of June 27.

                  Citizens can report the presence of wild birds that are dead or in poor condition as well as any signs of illness, unusual behavior or mortality in their hens by calling 1 877 346 6763.

                  At the height of the last wave of avian flu, in the spring, five farms in the Eastern Townships were declared positive for the disease, particularly affecting Canards du Lac-Brome, but also dealing a blow to the entire industry.

                  La découverte d’oiseaux sauvages atteints par la grippe aviaire à Sherbrooke incite les autorités à appeler la population de la région à la prudence, particulièrement les personnes qui ont un poulailler à la maison.
                  "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                  -Nelson Mandela

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Translation Google

                    Decrease in avian flu cases detected in the Mingan Islands

                    Radio Canada
                    Posted at 7:31 a.m.

                    The number of avian flu cases reported to the authorities of the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve is down, compared to the beginning of the summer.

                    A little less than a hundred carcasses of birds, probably affected by avian flu, have been reported in the National Park Reserve of the Archipel-de-Mingan.

                    The carcasses that could pose a risk to visitors were picked up, while the others were left behind.

                    Considering the vastness of the national park, the carcasses found represent only a very small sample of the total cases of bird flu that have infected the birds in the park. This is according to Aurore Pérot, conservation manager at the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve.

                    What we could observe was really the places where employees or visitors went, so we don't have an overall picture of the whole park , she explains.

                    Visitors only visit a tiny part of the islands, the largest and not the islands where there are large colonies of birds , continues Ms. Pérot.

                    Despite everything, the conservation manager can say that a peak in infections was reached between mid-July and the end of July and that a decrease in the number of carcasses discovered is now noticed.
                    ...
                    Outstanding questions

                    It is still difficult to say whether the avian flu epidemic will have an impact on the health of bird populations and on the ecosystem of the archipelago. In the long term, however, an analysis should be possible thanks to the data already collected in the national park reserve.

                    There are a few species that are more susceptible than others, such as the common eider or the gull. We have this advantage that in our monitoring program for the state of the park, these are birds that we have been following for a very long time, decades , explains Aurore Pérot.

                    “ Eiders and gulls are part of our monitoring, so over time we will be able to see the impact on these populations. »
                    — A quote from Aurore Pérot, Conservation Manager, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

                    It is also likely that the disease will continue to infect seabirds in the coming years.

                    Le nombre de cas de grippe aviaire rapportés aux autorités de la Réserve de parc national de l'Archipel-de-Mingan est en baisse, par rapport au début de l'été.
                    "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                    -Nelson Mandela

                    Comment


                    • #25
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                      • #26
                        Translation Google

                        Contamination of wild birds resumes


                        “We had a lull in August, but with the return of snow geese and Canada geese (photo) this fall, we are starting to have cases again,” explains Stéphane Lair, director of the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health. .

                        The contamination of wild birds with avian flu continues in Quebec, but at a slower rate than in the spring.

                        Posted at 6:00 a.m.To share
                        Emilie Bilodeau
                        LA PRESSE

                        H5N1 was detected in approximately 200 wildlife birds between April and the end of July in Quebec. After having identified no cases in August, autopsies carried out on birds found dead in the wild revealed 15 new cases of avian flu in September.

                        “We had a lull in August, but with the return of snow geese and geese this fall, we are starting to have cases again,” explains Stéphane Lair, director of the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health.

                        This fall, avian flu was detected in Canada geese and snow geese, but also in a pintail, an American black duck, two garganeys and a ring-billed gull. Citizens reported the presence of dead birds to the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Positive cases have been identified in Lachute, Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, Venise-en-Québec, Cap-Tourmente and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

                        These are pretty much the same places as last spring. These are places where there are migratory stopovers and where there is a high density of snow geese or geese at the same time. For the moment, we have not had a case in Baie-du-Febvre as in the spring, but it should happen.
                        Stéphane Lair, Director of the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health

                        The disease is most often spread among birds that live in colonies. Mr. Lair also refers to the hundreds of common eiders that were found dead in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region last spring, and to the carcasses of gannets that litter the beaches of Gaspésie -de-la-Madeleine.

                        Necrophagous birds also contract the disease. This is the case for gulls, bald eagles and turkey vultures, which are species that live in Quebec year-round. “If they eat a carcass or catch a sick bird, that's how they get infected. It's the same for crows and ravens that are scavengers,” says Lair.

                        "Worrying"

                        Veterinarian Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt says the excretions of infected birds – such as their droppings and nasal secretions – also contaminate the environment. The virus does not live long on dry surfaces; it prefers humid places and cool temperatures such as the edge of waterways, where many birds hang out, underlines the professor from the University of Montreal.

                        “It is worrying because environmental contamination is what can lead to the contamination of domestic [farmed] birds,” explains Professor Vaillancourt.

                        “For farmed birds, contamination is most often going to be through equipment, boots or a person's hands. The virus will be brought in this way inside a building where domestic birds are kept, ”he adds.

                        Chickens, turkeys, ducks or any other farm birds get sick from pecking at infected soil.

                        The veterinarian says that researchers are currently looking into the transmission of bird flu by aerosol. Also, studies are conducted on flies and mealworms. In Japan, researchers collected flies within a radius of 3 km around an infected farm. A third of the insects had virus particles on their bodies, notes Mr. Vaillancourt.

                        In Canada, 967 wild birds or mammals have tested positive for H5N1, according to an interactive table overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), since November 2021. “This is a serious reminder for anyone who keeps birds to remain vigilant for highly pathogenic avian influenza and to ensure that they have effective biosecurity measures in place,” the CFIA wrote in an email sent to La Presse .

                        Note that the first case of avian flu in Quebec was listed in April 2022.

                        A small sample

                        Matthieu Beaumont, wildlife biologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), explains, however, that the statistics on avian flu in wild birds represent only a small sample. Not all bird carcasses are picked up. Autopsies are carried out only on certain specimens after the report of a citizen, he recalls.

                        “It's very useful for monitoring the disease, but it's not a method for measuring the impact on populations. It's done to know when the disease arrives in a given area in a given species,” says the emergency response coordinator at ECCC.

                        The Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks of Quebec confirms for its part that avian influenza has spread in all regions of Quebec. "It remains possible that other mortality events of varying intensity in wild birds will continue to be detected sporadically in the coming months," the ministry wrote in an email.

                        La contamination d’oiseaux sauvages à la grippe aviaire se poursuit au Québec, mais à un rythme moins rapide qu’au printemps.
                        "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                        -Nelson Mandela

                        Comment


                        • #27

                          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richelieu_River



                          Translation Google


                          Suspected cases of avian flu: geese die by the dozen

                          Anouk Lebel | The Journal of Montreal| Published on November 29, 2022 at 00:00 - Update at 09:21

                          Avian flu is hitting dozens of snow geese on a migratory stopover along the Richelieu River in Montérégie, which is causing concern among residents.

                          “They act as if they were poisoned, they are not like they are there,” worries Jacques Cardinal, a retiree from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

                          Coming to take his traditional migration photos, he found at least fifty dead geese and others in agony on the shore, something he had never seen in thirty years.

                          "It can be dangerous, the children play with it, they could touch it," adds his friend Daniel Martel, desperate by the inaction of the authorities, who should have removed the carcasses days ago, according to him.

                          L'Arche de Zoé, a shelter for farm animals and wild animals in Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu, has received many calls about this in recent days.

                          “The geese, in normal times, it is very difficult to capture them. But a lot of people had brought them home and hoped that we could treat them,” explains owner Marie-Claude Poirier.

                          Avian Flu

                          Everything indicates that geese are infected with ...avian influenza virus, according to Stéphane Lair, professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Université Montréal.

                          “We received some from Saint-Jean, but also from Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford, which we sent for analysis. [...] it is sure that it is that , indicates it.

                          The animal health specialist explains that the virus arrived in Quebec in the spring, but causes a more “spectacular” mortality this fall.

                          And it is in particular because the geese are gathered in the same place for their migration to North Carolina from the Arctic that the virus spreads quickly.

                          They also rub shoulders with ducks who are asymptomatic carriers and contribute to the spread, he explains.

                          “It's like COVID, it's a question of contacts. It's like an office party,” he says.
                          ...
                          Called to react, the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks did not respond to our request last night.

                          "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                          -Nelson Mandela

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Translation Google

                            Centre-du-Québec: new carcasses of dead geese found

                            AMELIE PAQUETTE
                            Monday, 5 December 2022 20:27
                            UPDATE Monday, 5 December 2022 22:02

                            After Montérégie last week, it is now Centre-du-Québec's turn to find itself in the presence of dead geese, which would have contracted avian flu.

                            Several dead birds were found in Drummondville and Victoriaville.

                            Every morning, Philippe Halo walks along the Saint-François River, near Drummondville's municipal beach, to observe birds. For several weeks, the pensioner, who is also a fan of hunting, finds carcasses of dead geese on the edge of the banks every day.

                            “There were more and more people dying every day. It varies between 15 to 30 geese per day [according to my estimates]. I don't like it, because it's not a good sign. I'm a hunter by the way. When you see such a thing, you think of avian flu,” explained the pensioner, who contacted the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks to report the presence of these birds.

                            Several tens of kilometers further, in Victoriaville, nearly 200 carcasses of dead geese were picked up this weekend, at the Beaudet Reservoir, during an operation carried out jointly by the firefighters of the City of Victoriaville and the Protective Society of animals of Arthabaska (SPAA).

                            Quebec has confirmed that it has received reports of dead geese in Drummondville and Victoriaville.

                            “We still have confirmations that in the areas of Drummondville and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, we had the presence of avian influenza in wild birds. It must be remembered that these wild birds are the natural reservoir of the avian influenza virus. It is normal to observe it in these populations. They are the ones who will spread the virus along the migratory corridors,” explained Ariane Massé, biologist in the biosecurity and wild animal health division at the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlife. Parks.

                            A surveillance program for avian influenza in wild birds is underway. With this project, nearly 800 specimens were analyzed in the province, including about fifty in Centre-du-Québec. The biologist wishes to reassure the population, and recalls that this virus is difficult to transmit to humans. If you find a carcass, it is recommended that you do not handle it and report its presence to the relevant authorities.


                            "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                            -Nelson Mandela

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                            • #29
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                              Marine mammals victims of avian flu

                              Alexander Shields
                              Environment
                              February 1, 2023
                              ...

                              Avian flu caused the death of several thousand birds of different species in Quebec last year, but it also affected at least three species of marine mammals, according to what emerges from official data. And the virus is likely to strike this wildlife again this year, experts warn.

                              If we relied solely on the confirmed "positive" cases of avian influenza in wildlife species in Quebec, we would identify 315 of the approximately 1,676 confirmed or suspected cases (sample having tested positive for influenza at a provincial laboratory ) in Canada. The problem is that these data, which include all affected species, represent only a very small sample of infected animals.

                              This is the case for marine mammals, according to Dr. Stéphane Lair, director of the Quebec Center for Wild Animal Health. His team analyzed 64 carcasses of 10 different species of marine mammals last year. “The H5N1 virus was identified as the cause of death for 14 of the 22 harbor seals examined, for one of the three gray seals examined and for one of the five white-sided dolphins examined”, specifies Fisheries and Oceans Canada in a response to questions from Le Devoir . .

                              "For harbor seals, this is just the tip of the iceberg ," says Dr. Lair, adding that many carcasses were not collected and analyzed. According to him, it is therefore quite possible that the number of infected pinnipeds was greater. He points out that between 2017 and 2021, the Quebec Marine Mammal Emergency Network identified an average of 55 common or unidentified seal carcasses for the months of April to September. In 2022, that number jumped to 155 carcasses.

                              “This excess mortality can be largely attributed to avian influenza,” concludes Stéphane Lair, who is notably a full professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal.

                              “Suspicious” cases

                              However, it is difficult to predict to what extent the virus could affect the population of harbor seals, the only pinniped species resident in the St. Lawrence and the least abundant of the four species that frequent the estuary and the gulf. Certainly, “it could be several years before we get back to the population before,” says Dr. Lair. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, there are between 20,000 and 30,000 harbor seals.

                              Quebec is therefore no exception to what has been observed in the United States and Europe, where seals have been found dead. “We can hypothesize that the seals became infected following contact with carrier seabirds, such as common eiders, with which they share the habitat. The impact that these mortalities will have on the seal population remains to be determined”, explains the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP).

                              Furthermore, despite certain “suspicious” cases in harbor porpoises (the smallest cetacean in the St. Lawrence), none of the 23 carcasses examined detected the presence of the virus. There were significant mortalities in 2022, specifies Stéphane Lair, but they were not attributed to avian influenza. The veterinarian's team also did not detect any cases of H5N1 in belugas during the analysis of carcasses.

                              Back in 2023

                              However, experts will remain vigilant in 2023, since the avian flu should continue to kill wild animals in Quebec. “We can expect a year 2023 which will look like the year 2022 , whether for birds or for marine mammals. It would be amazing if it were different,” warns Dr. Lair. In Europe, the virus is still present more than two years after the start of the epidemic.

                              Same story on the side of Magella Guillemette, professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Quebec in Rimouski, but also of the MELCCFP. "It remains possible that other species and other mortality events of varying intensity will continue to be detected sporadically in the coming months," the ministry said.

                              For 2022, however, the authorities are unable to give "a precise estimate of the number of dead wild birds". One thing is certain, the deadly virus hit waterfowl in 2022, including the Canada goose and some species of ducks. Snow geese have also been affected, particularly during an upsurge in cases observed in November, when the species migrates seasonally.

                              "Predatory or scavenger birds that could feed on waterfowl or their carcasses, such as birds of prey, have also been greatly affected by the virus," adds the MELCCFP. Among the infected species, the ministry mentions the turkey vulture, the bald eagle and certain species of buzzards.

                              The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has also caused “significant” mortalities in seabirds in the St. Lawrence, particularly gannets, common eiders, sea gulls and herring gulls.

                              Professor Guillemette nevertheless believes that the worst has been avoided for the largest colony of northern gannets in North America, that of Bonaventure Island. “The impact was pretty minimal. We are talking about a decline of 0.5% to 5%, depending on the variables used. The impact was greater at the start of the year, before decreasing thereafter,” explains the researcher who leads a team carrying out annual monitoring of this colony of more than 100,000 birds since 2008.




                              "Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."
                              -Nelson Mandela

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