HPAI has not been detected in dairy cattle or other livestock in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is monitoring the situation closely. We will update this page as soon as new information becomes available.
HPAI is not a food safety concern and the risk of transmission to humans remains low.
What the U.S. Department of Agriculture found
Affected cows are showing clinical signs that include a decrease in milk production or feed consumption and thicker consistency milk.
The animals appear to recover after a period of illness. It is suspected that wild birds may have introduced the virus.
Learn more about the HPAI detections in livestock from the USDA Animal Health Inspection Service.
What consumers need to know
Pasteurized cow’s milk and milk products remain safe to consume.
Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and viruses (including influenza) while retaining the nutritional properties of milk. Pasteurization ensures the milk we drink is safe.
There is also no evidence to suggest that eating thoroughly cooked beef could transmit avian influenza to humans. All evidence to date indicates that thorough cooking will kill the virus.
Safe food handling practices, such as handwashing and keeping meat products separate from other food products to avoid cross contamination should be followed.
What producers can do
Prevent the spread of disease by:
- monitoring cattle for clinical signs, including a sudden decrease in milk production
- contacting your veterinarian for any suspected cases
- practising good biosecurity measures, such as:
- isolating sick animals and new animals that join your farm
- minimizing contact with wild birds on your farm
- regularly inspecting your farm and cleaning up any loose feed
- reporting dead wildlife to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
- changing boots when entering barns
- regularly sanitizing livestock enclosures, waterers and feeders
- limiting visitors to your farm
- contacting your provincial or national associations for any enhanced biosecurity protocols that may be available
Read more information about animal biosecurity, that includes:
- animal-specific standards
- protocols
- practices
- a self-assessment checklist
What veterinarians can look for
Veterinarians are encouraged to contact their local CFIA animal health office if they suspect HPAI infection and consult the Guidance for private veterinarians.
What to look for:
- a sudden decrease in milk (especially in older cows)
- thicker consistency milk, similar to colostrum
- little to no signs of mastitis (a negative or trace positive result from the California Mastitis Test)
- decrease in feed consumption
- drop in rumen motility
- dry manure or constipation (diarrhea has been observed occasionally)
- fever (sometimes)
- a history of dead wild birds on the property
How we respond to detections in cattle versus poultry
Our response to detections of HPAI in cattle is different from detections in domestic birds. Although the virus is the same, cattle respond differently to the virus.
HPAI spreads rapidly between birds and leads to high mortality rates. This represents significant health risks in birds, resulting in negative impacts to trade of live poultry and poultry products. Cattle show milder signs, with only a small proportion of the herd being affected. Cattle typically recover within one to three weeks.
No cows have died from this virus so far and there are no impacts to trade of live cattle or their products. Our role in HPAI in cattle is to provide scientific guidance and diagnostic assistance and to report internationally.
We are working with the veterinary community, industry, public health authorities and the provinces and territories to coordinate a national response. We will continue to reassess the situation as new information becomes available.
Trade implications
The World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) does not recommend restrictions on the movement of healthy cattle and their products at this time. Refer to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in Cattle.
Wild birds remain the main source of HPAI. Practising good biosecurity is key to helping prevent disease.
For the importation of live cattle, the CFIA has current import controls in place, including import permits, export certification and veterinary inspection of imported cattle.
We will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and will consider any additional measures, as necessary.
Related links
- World Organisation for Animal Health Statement – HPAI in cattle
- Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System – Dairy
- Animal Health Canada Update – US Detections of H5N1 in Dairy Cattle
- Public Healthy Agency of Canada – Avian influenza A(H5N1): Symptoms and treatment
- Guidance on human health issues related to avian influenza in Canada
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza in cattle: Guidance for private veterinarians
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