CAHSS to speak at National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health Webinar on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health is hosting a free webinar called, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: Adapting to a new One Health challenge from an old foe, on October 31, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Our Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System division coordinator, Dr. Murray Gillies, will provide an update on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle in the US, and the collaborative work of Canadian One Health stakeholders. 

This talk will begin by briefly discussing animal health surveillance in Canada and the role of the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) division of Animal Health Canada. CAHSS uses a network of network approach to bring together and use data-driven information to demonstrate animal health, minimize impacts of disease, and guide planning on national animal health priorities. This system was put to the test following the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13 in dairy cattle in the United states which widely and rapidly spread across the country and continues to cause problems. To date the US has reported 296 affected herds with frequent spill over into poultry operations resulting in the depopulation of around 17.6 million birds. The US Center for Disease Control has also reported 14 human cases, mostly among dairy and poultry workers. However, they have also reported one human case in Missouri with no known animal exposure and illnesses among other close contacts. This outbreak has been unprecedented and unexpected and remains difficult to control in the US. Fortunately, Canada has found success driven by a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach which we hope to continue to leverage in preparing for outbreaks in our animal agricultural sectors.

Register here.