Officials monitoring avian flu in mammals in the Canadian Arctic

Wildlife officials tracking the spread of bird flu are looking to do more tests on other animal species.

Nunavut registered its first case of avian flu this year in a northern fulmar found near Resolute Bay on Oct. 3.

That case is connected to a strain circulating in Greenland, according to Jon Neely, operations co-ordinator of Nunavut's wildlife division. 

It's one of several cases among birds in the North since the outbreak began in 2022, though Neely doesn't believe the virus is widespread. 

In recent months, more reports are emerging around the world of the virus in mammals, including species found in the Arctic. 

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Brian Stevens, a wildlife pathologist for the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, said one of the biggest changes in the avian flu landscape is the spread among cattle in the U.S.

"There have been a lot more human contacts and human infections related to those dairy cattle infections," he said.

"That's when these influenza viruses become more dangerous because, especially in humans, you start to get mixing of our influenza viruses with the avian influenza virus."

Canada had its first domestically acquired case of avian flu in a human earlier this month. The Public Health Agency of Canada said that case is linked to an ongoing outbreak in poultry in British Columbia.

That outbreak, PHAC said, is not linked to the cattle outbreak south of the border. 

Across the country, the virus has spread to 12 species of wild mammals and at least 100 species of wild birds since the outbreak began in 2022, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

In Nunavut, five lemmings were tested this year. They came back negative. Neely said test results from one seal is still pending. 

More testing among Arctic species

Stevens would like to examine more species from the Arctic — but that comes with logistical challenges. 

They have to be sent to the shared Nunavut and Ontario laboratory, based in the University of Guelph, before being sent to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease for confirmation.

Then there's the difficulty of transporting samples of large animals from remote communities, and ensuring locals are trained to do that safely. That's something Stevens wants to work on.

"Then we're not putting hunters who aren't used to dealing with these diseases on the front lines and potentially putting them at risk," he said.

The Government of Nunavut has trained conservation officers in most communities — except Clyde River, Igloolik, Kinngait, Pangnirtung and Sanirajak.

For communities without a full-time officer, Neely said they have strong partnerships with local hunters and trappers organizations. They also have some conservation officers who rotate between different communities.

Neely said the Nunavut government relies on reports of suspected cases from community members — whatever species they present themselves in — so they're not currently looking to change the way they monitor cases.

"There's nothing proactive that can be done in relation to avian flu, so we rely on information provided to us by hunters. The hunters are our greatest resource," Neely said.

Risk to humans — including through country food

The risk of avian influenza infection in the general public is considered low.

Nunavut's Department of Health said there's no evidence of the virus spreading to humans when eating an infected bird or eggs — if they're fully cooked.

"In general, human cases of avian influenza are caused by close, prolonged contact with infected live or dead poultry or contaminated environments," the department said in a press release last month. 

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However, Stevens acknowledges that country food is often eaten raw. He advises people to avoid eating sick or dead animals. 

Signs of an infected animal include lack of co-ordination, swelling around the head, shaking and diarrhea.

Neely would like hunters to help with testing by bringing back any sick-looking animals from the land — but only if that can be done safely. The key is to avoid any contact with the skin.

"We recommend that samples be double bagged … [while] wearing gloves."

"A mask and eye protection would be ideal as well … but as long as you're not making contact and you're using a tool, like a shovel, to bag the animal and you're not touching it directly, the risk of transmission is low."