Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Sample Analyses

1.0 Background

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (HPAI) of the clade 2.3.4.4b is a newly emerging virus in Canada and North America that severely impacts migratory birds. The current HPAI outbreak has affected more species of migratory birds than previous outbreaks in North America and has also resulted in higher migratory bird mortality. This HPAI strain has caused mass mortality events in at least one ECCC-CWS Management Stream 2 bird species (i.e., Red Knot) and has the potential to negatively impact all other Management Stream 2 bird species managed by ECCC-CWS. The current HPAI outbreak has challenged ECCC’s understanding of the virus, and there is increasing urgency to conduct predictive spatial modelling to better understand the risk of geographical spread, transmission, and persistence and population-level impact of HPAI to migratory birds in Canada. Baseline prevalence of HPAI is vital to inform ECCC’s risk-based decision-making and communication with respect to managing migratory bird populations, including those regulated by ECCC under the Migratory Birds Convention Act and Species at Risk Act.

The requirements of this Contract will help ECCC meet its mandated commitments for the conservation of migratory birds, including Species at Risk, other Management Stream 2 species, as well as international obligations for disease surveillance.

1.1. Objective

The primary objective of the Work is to complete the analysis of samples collected as part of active HPAI surveillance efforts by ECCC and partner organizations. Surveillance efforts are prioritized according to ECCC’s 2022 AIV Surveillance Strategy. In addition to the Surveillance Strategy, regionally specific samples to address regional priorities will also be included.

2.0 Description of Work

The contractor will conduct analysis of up 29,100 samples for matrix PCR from wild birds collected as part of on-going HPAI surveillance efforts by ECCC and partner organizations over the next three years, according to the sampling framework outlined in section 3.1. The contractor will also conduct analysis of up to 5400 non-negative matrix samples for H5 and H7 sub typing over the next three years, according to the sampling framework outlined in section 3.1. Following analysis, the contractor will report all results back to ECCC (i.e. Technical Authority) and provide all non-negative matrix PCR and all H5/H7 samples results to National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD) in Winnipeg.

The Contractor must a current Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN) partner as well as ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for PCR detection of Type A Influenza and avian H5 and H7 subtypes. 

The Contractor must have the ability to maintain enhanced turnaround times during periods of increased sample submissions, allowing ECCC to detect occurrence and spatial distribution of HPAI cases across Canada to inform policy decisions and partner organizations of the current status which is of high importance given the rapidly evolving situation of HPAI in North America.

Given highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (HPAI) of the clade 2.3.4.4b is a newly emerging virus in Canada and North America that severely impacts migratory birds, the need for ongoing, flexible monitoring options is essential to evaluate the potential impact on migratory bird populations.