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British Columbia warns doctors to watch for spread of bird flu to humans after spike in cases in birds
New
December 10, 2022
The BC Center for Disease Control is asking doctors to be on the lookout for the unlikely possibility of highly pathogenic bird flu spreading to humans after a recent spike in outbreaks on commercial farms in the valley of the Fraser.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, there have been 48 sites in the region with infections involving the H5N1 subtype of the virus since November 16.
A Dec. 2 communicable disease advisory from the BCCDC warns of “serious disease” in wild and domestic birds.
“While HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] does not typically infect humans, the increase in detection in birds over the past two weeks increases the potential for exposure and transmission to humans which, if they are infected, may show symptoms of varying severity,” the notice reads.
“Exposure to novel influenza viruses is of concern because of the potential for human adaptation and the associated pandemic risk. Such a risk can be considered a “low probability, high impact” event.”
So far, four human cases of the virus have been detected in North America and Europe, including one in the United States, one in the United Kingdom and two in Spain.
The BCCDC says the possibility of bird flu should be considered in patients who have been in close contact with infected animals. Symptoms are similar to other cases of the flu and may include cough, sore throat, fever, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, joint stiffness, headache, pink eye, shortness of breath and seizures.
British Columbians are advised to avoid unnecessary contact with domestic and wild birds, ensure eggs and poultry dishes are thoroughly cooked, stay away from surfaces contaminated with bird droppings , boil untreated water in areas where wild birds congregate, and get a flu shot every year.
Theresa Burns, BC's chief veterinarian, said this fall's outbreak is linked to migratory waterfowl like geese and ducks that move north to south across the province.
"This is the biggest outbreak we've seen in British Columbia, and certainly, it's also the biggest outbreak we've seen in the world," she told CBC.
She added that this year's strain is much more contagious than you usually see and causes more severe disease in poultry.
https://lesactualites.news/nouvelle...humains-apres-un-pic-de-cas-chez-les-oiseaux/
--------------------------
Communicable Disease Advisory: Avian Influenza
December 2, 2022
Dear colleague,
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), notably of the H5N1 subtype, is currently widespread
among wild and domestic birds across Canada and worldwide. Cumulatively since April 2022
and as of November 28, 2022, HPAI has been detected in 57 poultry premises in British
Columbia (BC). The situation is changing rapidly as about half (27) of all affected premises to
date in BC have accrued in the past two weeks alone (since mid-November). Of those, all but
one has been reported in the Fraser Health region where most of the provincial commercial
poultry production occurs.
HPAI is associated with severe illness in birds. While HPAI does not typically infect humans, the
increase in detection among birds over the last two weeks increases the potential for exposure
and transmission to humans who if infected may experience symptoms of varying severity.
Exposure to novel influenza viruses is concerning because of the potential for human adaptation
and associated pandemic risk. Such risk may be considered a “low probability, high impact”
event. This advisory provides guidance on when to suspect possible HPAI in humans along with
recommendations on reporting, testing, clinical management and patient counselling.
An epidemiological summary and risk assessment are provided for further context in Appendix
1. For updates to public health guidelines, please consult the BCCDC Interim Public Health
Guidelines for H5N1 Avian Influenza.
Clinical assessment
While animal to human transmission is rare, the possibility of avian influenza should be
considered for patients presenting with symptoms compatible with avian influenza1 AND
who have had close contact to an infected bird or animal or other exposure of concern2
.
People who are in close contact with infected poultry, such as farm workers, are at risk for avian
influenza.
Reporting and Notification
Suspected or known human cases of HPAI are reportable in BC. Clinicians should report any
symptomatic individuals who have a known avian influenza exposure in the 10 days prior
to symptom onset to local Medical Health Officer as soon as possible. Contact information for
regional public health is available in Appendix 2.
Testing
Clinicians should have a low threshold for testing for possible seasonal and avian influenza
virus among individuals who report sick bird or other exposures of concern and who have onset
of clinically compatible symptoms within 10 days following that exposure.
When testing is indicated, a nasopharyngeal and a throat swab OR a sputum sample (for
patients with a productive cough) should be collected for influenza virus testing as close to the
onset of illness as possible, preferably within five days of onset. However, clinicians should
have a low threshold for testing beyond this time frame as detection of avian influenza viruses
can extend up to 3 weeks post-onset.
Notify the BCCDC Medical Microbiologist on-call of the suspect case and testing request
at 604-661-7033. Collect the sample in viral transport medium, document the exposure on the
test requisition (e.g., “human high-risk AIV”), and send directly to your local testing lab. The
BCCDC Medical Microbiologist will coordinate appropriate testing with your local laboratory.
Management and Treatment
Advise symptomatic individuals who have known avian influenza exposure to isolate at home
and away from others until the test results are available. Empiric treatment with antivirals
(osteltamivir and zanamivir) should be considered based on an exposure assessment and
patient’s risk factors for severe influenza.
Chemoprophylaxis of asymptomatic patients with known avian influenza exposure can be
considered for the purposes of protecting the individual and/or preventing further transmission. It
can be started up to 7 days after the last exposure. The decision to initiate post-exposure
antiviral chemoprophylaxis should be made in consultation with the Medical Health Officer
based on an exposure assessment.
Preventative Measures and Patient Counselling Points
There are several actions that people (particularly those handling birds and/or with small flocks)
can take to protect themselves and others:
• Avoid unnecessary contact with poultry and wild birds, especially if they are sick,
dead or displaying unusual behaviours.
• Avoid contact with surfaces contam...
inated with bird droppings or secretions.
• Ensure eggs and poultry dishes are well cooked.
• Boil any untreated water from areas where waterfowl gather (ponds, lakes, rivers)
prior to consumption.
...
http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-galler...D Manual/Chapter 1 - CDC/HPAI CD advisory.pdf
British Columbia warns doctors to watch for spread of bird flu to humans after spike in cases in birds
New
December 10, 2022
The BC Center for Disease Control is asking doctors to be on the lookout for the unlikely possibility of highly pathogenic bird flu spreading to humans after a recent spike in outbreaks on commercial farms in the valley of the Fraser.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, there have been 48 sites in the region with infections involving the H5N1 subtype of the virus since November 16.
A Dec. 2 communicable disease advisory from the BCCDC warns of “serious disease” in wild and domestic birds.
“While HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] does not typically infect humans, the increase in detection in birds over the past two weeks increases the potential for exposure and transmission to humans which, if they are infected, may show symptoms of varying severity,” the notice reads.
“Exposure to novel influenza viruses is of concern because of the potential for human adaptation and the associated pandemic risk. Such a risk can be considered a “low probability, high impact” event.”
So far, four human cases of the virus have been detected in North America and Europe, including one in the United States, one in the United Kingdom and two in Spain.
The BCCDC says the possibility of bird flu should be considered in patients who have been in close contact with infected animals. Symptoms are similar to other cases of the flu and may include cough, sore throat, fever, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, joint stiffness, headache, pink eye, shortness of breath and seizures.
British Columbians are advised to avoid unnecessary contact with domestic and wild birds, ensure eggs and poultry dishes are thoroughly cooked, stay away from surfaces contaminated with bird droppings , boil untreated water in areas where wild birds congregate, and get a flu shot every year.
Theresa Burns, BC's chief veterinarian, said this fall's outbreak is linked to migratory waterfowl like geese and ducks that move north to south across the province.
"This is the biggest outbreak we've seen in British Columbia, and certainly, it's also the biggest outbreak we've seen in the world," she told CBC.
She added that this year's strain is much more contagious than you usually see and causes more severe disease in poultry.
https://lesactualites.news/nouvelle...humains-apres-un-pic-de-cas-chez-les-oiseaux/
--------------------------
Communicable Disease Advisory: Avian Influenza
December 2, 2022
Dear colleague,
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), notably of the H5N1 subtype, is currently widespread
among wild and domestic birds across Canada and worldwide. Cumulatively since April 2022
and as of November 28, 2022, HPAI has been detected in 57 poultry premises in British
Columbia (BC). The situation is changing rapidly as about half (27) of all affected premises to
date in BC have accrued in the past two weeks alone (since mid-November). Of those, all but
one has been reported in the Fraser Health region where most of the provincial commercial
poultry production occurs.
HPAI is associated with severe illness in birds. While HPAI does not typically infect humans, the
increase in detection among birds over the last two weeks increases the potential for exposure
and transmission to humans who if infected may experience symptoms of varying severity.
Exposure to novel influenza viruses is concerning because of the potential for human adaptation
and associated pandemic risk. Such risk may be considered a “low probability, high impact”
event. This advisory provides guidance on when to suspect possible HPAI in humans along with
recommendations on reporting, testing, clinical management and patient counselling.
An epidemiological summary and risk assessment are provided for further context in Appendix
1. For updates to public health guidelines, please consult the BCCDC Interim Public Health
Guidelines for H5N1 Avian Influenza.
Clinical assessment
While animal to human transmission is rare, the possibility of avian influenza should be
considered for patients presenting with symptoms compatible with avian influenza1 AND
who have had close contact to an infected bird or animal or other exposure of concern2
.
People who are in close contact with infected poultry, such as farm workers, are at risk for avian
influenza.
Reporting and Notification
Suspected or known human cases of HPAI are reportable in BC. Clinicians should report any
symptomatic individuals who have a known avian influenza exposure in the 10 days prior
to symptom onset to local Medical Health Officer as soon as possible. Contact information for
regional public health is available in Appendix 2.
Testing
Clinicians should have a low threshold for testing for possible seasonal and avian influenza
virus among individuals who report sick bird or other exposures of concern and who have onset
of clinically compatible symptoms within 10 days following that exposure.
When testing is indicated, a nasopharyngeal and a throat swab OR a sputum sample (for
patients with a productive cough) should be collected for influenza virus testing as close to the
onset of illness as possible, preferably within five days of onset. However, clinicians should
have a low threshold for testing beyond this time frame as detection of avian influenza viruses
can extend up to 3 weeks post-onset.
Notify the BCCDC Medical Microbiologist on-call of the suspect case and testing request
at 604-661-7033. Collect the sample in viral transport medium, document the exposure on the
test requisition (e.g., “human high-risk AIV”), and send directly to your local testing lab. The
BCCDC Medical Microbiologist will coordinate appropriate testing with your local laboratory.
Management and Treatment
Advise symptomatic individuals who have known avian influenza exposure to isolate at home
and away from others until the test results are available. Empiric treatment with antivirals
(osteltamivir and zanamivir) should be considered based on an exposure assessment and
patient’s risk factors for severe influenza.
Chemoprophylaxis of asymptomatic patients with known avian influenza exposure can be
considered for the purposes of protecting the individual and/or preventing further transmission. It
can be started up to 7 days after the last exposure. The decision to initiate post-exposure
antiviral chemoprophylaxis should be made in consultation with the Medical Health Officer
based on an exposure assessment.
Preventative Measures and Patient Counselling Points
There are several actions that people (particularly those handling birds and/or with small flocks)
can take to protect themselves and others:
• Avoid unnecessary contact with poultry and wild birds, especially if they are sick,
dead or displaying unusual behaviours.
• Avoid contact with surfaces contam...
inated with bird droppings or secretions.
• Ensure eggs and poultry dishes are well cooked.
• Boil any untreated water from areas where waterfowl gather (ponds, lakes, rivers)
prior to consumption.
...
http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-galler...D Manual/Chapter 1 - CDC/HPAI CD advisory.pdf