# 5086
Although first announced several hours ago, details remain sketchy on the type avian flu strain detected in number of turkeys at a farm in the rural municipality of Rockwood, Manitoba.
CTV Winnipeg is reporting this as an H5 strain, likely low path, and not the highly pathogenic H5N1.
Other media outlets are not specifying a strain, so these details could change or evolve over the next few hours.
A hat tip to Ironorehopper on FluTrackers who posted the following report. An ongoing thread (started by Shiloh) tracking new developments is available at this link.
Turkeys in RM of Rockwood test positive for form of bird flu, officials believe strain is non-deadly
Officials have not yet said how many of the animals tested positive for an H5 strain of bird flu.
Updated: Wed Nov. 24 2010 14:19:36
ctvwinnipeg.caProvincial and federal officials have quarantined a turkey farm in the RM of Rockwood.
Some turkeys have tested positive for an H5 strain of bird flu, but there is no evidence it is the deadly form known as the Asian strain of the H5N1 influenza, said provincial officials.
There has been no indication of human illness.
Low path outbreaks of avian influenza have been recorded in North America (and around the globe) in the past, and rarely present a human health threat.
CIDRAP’s overview on avian influenza Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Agricultural and Wildlife Considerations details many of these outbreaks.
Low Pathogenic avian viruses, if left unchecked, have the potential to mutate into a more highly pathogenic strain. For that reason low path outbreaks of the H5 and H7 variety are taken seriously, and are a reportable disease to the OIE.
Culling is generally the recommended response.
