Source: Government of Canada
As part of the Government of Canada’s One Health approach, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada, is taking proactive measures to monitor Canadian dairy cows for HPAI.
Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume. In Canada, milk must be pasteurized before sale. The pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including HPAI, ensuring milk and milk products are safe to drink and eat.
Pasteurized commercial milk (sold at retail)
As of September 5, 2024, CFIA laboratories have tested 1,211 retail milk samples from across Canada. All samples have tested negative.
Results of the Canada-wide testing of retail milk samples are listed below.
| Area | Samples tested | HPAI detections (positive or negative) |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic provinces | 302 | All negative |
| Ontario | 307 | All negative |
| Quebec | 302 | All negative |
| Western provinces | 300 | All negative |
Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants
As of September 20, 2024, CFIA laboratories have tested 272 samples of raw milk arriving at processing plants across Canada. All samples have tested negative.
This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.
Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples at processing plants are listed below.
| Area | Samples tested | HPAI detections (positive or negative) |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic provinces | 29 | All negative |
| Ontario | 68 | All negative |
| Quebec | 38 | All negative |
| Western provinces | 137 | All negative |
Milk pasteurization study
Under the leadership of Health Canada, CFIA laboratories carried out a study in May and June 2024 on the effectiveness of pasteurization to inactivate HPAI virus in milk. Consistent with similar studies published internationally, the results showed that pasteurization is effective.
Additional information is available on Health Canada’s website: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and food safety.
How we are responding to HPAI in cattle
In Canada, HPAI is a reportable disease in all animals. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. There are currently no confirmed detections of HPAI in cattle in Canada.
Learn more about protective measures in place for HPAI in livestock in Canada.
Testing samples at non-CFIA laboratories
Any laboratories involved in testing or research and development activities that require working with samples of the HPAI virus must comply with biosafety, biocontainment and reporting requirements from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Biosafety advisory: Avian influenza A(H5N1) (June 28, 2024)
Any non-CFIA laboratories that are testing animals, an animal specimen or sample, or an animal product or by-product (including milk) must notify the CFIA if they detect avian influenza virus fragments or antibodies in these samples.
More information:
