Canada’s milk supply remains free from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), according to a recent federal update.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, labs had tested 1,211 retail milk samples from across Canada as of Sept. 5, 2024. All samples tested negative.
The agency has divided into four quadrants for its ongoing testing program: the Atlantic provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the western provinces. Between 300 and 307 samples were tested in each quadrant.
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As of Sept. 20, the CFIA had also tested 272 samples of raw (unpasteurized) milk arriving at processing plants across Canada. Again, all samples tested negative.
The most recent findings echo similarly negative results earlier this year.
Bird flu cases continue to pop up in dairies in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection, 14 states have experienced HPAI outbreaks in dairy herds with 304 herds impacted as of Oct.15.
Testing of American milk samples have found viral remnants in retail samples south of the international border this year.
No cases of the H5N1 strain have been found in Canadian cattle, but concern over possible spread has led Canadian officials to institute new rules around cross-border movement of cattle.
In September, Canadian producers were urged to avoid U.S. livestock shows, particularly if there were any cattle or poultry participating which hailed from states where bird flu had been found.
