115 dead birds in Alberta, Canada thought to be natural phenomenon

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: BH-20070222-10007-CAN
Date / time: 22/02/2007 06:22:36
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: Canada
State/County: Province of Alberta
City: Unknow
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Wildlife experts are examining another 50 ducks found dead along the Bow River on Wednesday, bringing the total number of dead birds discovered this week to 115. Test results won’t be available to confirm the cause of death until later this week, but the likely culprit is a bacteria or viral infection, said Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer Paul Lypyczuk.

He stressed it’s not likely the H5N1 strain of avian bird flu that’s been responsible for bird deaths and mass culls in other parts of the world. "There’s no reason for the public to be concerned," Lypyczuk said. Robyn Roper, a wildlife biologist with the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, said the dead ducks and some dead Canadian geese have been spotted along the Bow River from Nose Hill to the off-leash dog park at Southland Dr.

The public reported 65 dead ducks - mostly of the Mallard variety - on Monday. Lypyczuk said the rapid spread of disease isn’t uncommon among birds during the winter months when large areas of their habitat freezes, forcing them to live in closer proximity. "When we have concentrated groups of animals, it’s a breeding ground for diseases, infections (and) bacteria," he said. "This is a natural phenomenon."

In previous years, large groups of birds have fallen victim to avian cholera in Calgary, said Lypyczuk. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is expected to release the test results in the next a few days, he said.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=10007