Guidance for private veterinarians

Advisory: cases of bird flu (HPAI H5N1) have been detected in U.S. dairy cattle. Consult the precautions for attending U.S. agricultural fairs. Read the full advisory.

Veterinarians must take precautions to prevent spreading diseases when visiting different farms. The risk of disease transmission by veterinarians from premises to premises is real. Failure to take steps to mitigate the risks of disease spread could lead to serious consequences.

For information on personal safety, clinical signs and HPAI transmission, see Guidance for people handling dairy cattle.

In Canada, avian influenza is a reportable disease in all animals. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. Avian influenza is also reportable in some provinces and territories.

Reporting

In Canada, HPAI is a reportable disease in all animals. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. HPAI is also reportable in some provinces and territories.

If you suspect HPAI

Before visiting a farm with suspected HPAI

Plan ahead
- Schedule the visit at the end of your day.
- Talk to the producer about:
  - farm biosecurity practices including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff
  - location of sick animals
  - available cleaning supplies (for example, water hose)
Prepare your gear
- Bring extra boots and PPE (for example, gloves, coveralls)
- Pack a tote for storing used PPE
- Ensure your vehicle and equipment are clean
On arrival
- Park in a clean area, away from barns, manure, or deadstock management/holding sites
- Bring only essentials into the barn
- Bring your own cleaning supplies for boots and tools
While onsite
- Visit healthy animals first, sick ones last
- Handle milk or other animal products last

If you suspect HPAI when you are on the farm

1. Report Immediately
- Contact your local CFIA district office
- Check if your province/territory also requires reporting
2. Focus on biocontainment
- Change outerwear and disinfect boots before your next visit
- Store used PPE in a tote box for cleaning or disposal
- Clean and disinfect all equipment
- Disposable materials that were exposed to animals or their living areas should be left on the farm for disposal
- Remove dirt/manure from your vehicle before leaving
- Use a commercial car wash if your vehicle was near barns or contaminated areas
3. Take samples as per sample collection and submission instructions below

What the CFIA will do when a suspect case is reported

Request that samples are submitted. For more information see collecting and submitting samples
Recommend stopping or limiting cattle movement until test results are returned
The CFIA will ask the private veterinarian reporting the suspect case for the following information.
- Business name, (provincial) premises identification number, premises owner and occupier, animal owner
- Address (including description of physical location of suspect animal/herd)
- Type of operation, species present on-farm and approximate number of each species
- Details on HPAI suspects/animals displaying clinical signs: species affected, number of suspects, onset of clinical signs, description of clinical signs including any mortalities and/or pathology noted, changes in production parameters
- Potential for contact between livestock/farmed animals and wild waterfowl (describe contact, if applicable)
- Any additions to the herd in the past 30 days
- Any other relevant information (for example dead/sick cats or dead birds)

Collecting and submitting samples

Who collects samples

Private veterinarians are responsible for sample collection both for suspect cases and in cattle where disease is not suspected (for example, Canadian cattle returning from the U.S., or for biosecurity purposes).

Laboratory testing fees

Until further notice, the CFIA will cover the fees for laboratory testing at any Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN) laboratory that is approved to test samples in domestic animals. The CFIA does not pay for associated veterinary fees for sample collection or shipment to the lab.

Sampling instructions

Samples may be submitted from bulk milk tanks, lactating dairy cows and non-lactating dairy cattle (dairy calves, heifers and dry cows)
We recommend submitting a bulk milk tank sample any time testing for HPAI is performed
For suspect cases, sample up to 10 affected animals

Bulk tank samples (milk)

Collect samples in a manner consistent with the industry standards for collection of milk samples
Label a specimen container with the farm name and "bulk tank" to clearly identify the sample
Agitate the tank for 5 minutes before taking any samples
Collect 10 millilitres of milk from the bulk tank into a plastic specimen container with a secure lid (for example, screwed)

Lactating dairy cattle samples (milk)

Label each specimen container with a unique animal ID (ensure the official identification number (15 digits) is included in the laboratory submission form).
Clean the udder and be sure to remove any visible debris
Combine milk from all 4 quarters into a plastic specimen container with a secure lid (for example, screwed)
One sample per cow: 10 millilitres total sample volume

Non-lactating dairy cattle (nasal swab)

Label each specimen container with a unique animal ID (ensure the official identification number (15 digits) is included in the laboratory submission form).
Use a single sterile swab (synthetic fibre swabs only) to sample both nostrils
Firmly brush the nasal mucosa as deep as possible in the nasal passages
Gently agitate the swab in the Universal Transport Medium (UTM). Do not leave the swab in the UTM but instead swirl the swab into the UTM tube and thoroughly squeeze out the fluid against the side of the tube. Discard the swab
Do NOT pool swabs from more than one individual into the same UTM vial

Handling samples after collection

The following guidance applies to all samples from an individual dairy cow or from a bulk tank on a dairy farm:

Ensure each specimen container is labelled with a unique identifier so the sample can be traced to an animal or bulk tank
Ensure the outside of the specimen container is clean; disinfect the outside surface^Footnote 1
Place each specimen container in a plastic bag and seal the bag. Milk and UTM samples should be in separate bags.
Disinfect the outside of the plastic bag^Footnote 1
Refrigerate all samples before submission; ship on ice packs in an insulated container

Where to send samples

Private veterinarians may send samples to any animal health diagnostic laboratory that is CFIA-approved to perform avian influenza. See CFIA-approved animal health diagnostic laboratories.

Test results

The test used at Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN) labs is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for influenza A virus. Samples returning non-negative results are forwarded to the CFIA's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease for confirmatory testing.

Results are reported back to the submitting veterinarian by the CAHSN lab.

For suspect case submissions, the private veterinarian is required to report negative test results back to the district office upon receipt. There is no requirement to report negative results to the CFIA for samples that were not originally submitted as a suspect case.

Understanding negative test results

A negative test indicates no detection of influenza A viral material in the sample. A negative test on a cow with no clinical signs typically means no HPAI infection.

Rarely, a false negative result occurs when the cow is infected, but HPAI is not detected by the test. Possible causes may include poor sampling technique, or if the cow is not yet shedding high levels of HPAI virus, for instance if the cow was infected very recently.

Positive test results

A positive result means that viral material consistent with HPAI (H5 or H7) was detected in the sample. If a sample tests positive (from a bulk tank or dairy cattle), the herd is classified as an affected herd and disease response actions as described below will apply.

The CFIA's response to a positive case

The CFIA's role for HPAI-affected dairy herds differs from its role in poultry. For HPAI-affected herds, the CFIA:

sets national response objectives and will work with provincial authorities to implement them
provides scientific advice, diagnostic support and international reporting

Response measures include requiring that:

personal safety and on-farm biosecurity measures are observed
cattle movement (particularly lactating cattle) onto and off the premises is stopped or limited
all milk from clinically affected animals does not enter the bulk tank and undergoes an inactivation process or is appropriately discarded
all milk from the bulk tank is pasteurized
epidemiological information about the affected herd is collected
local public health authorities are involved to further assess any potential human health risk

For more information about the response in your area, contact your provincial or territorial Chief Veterinary Officer.

The CFIA will continue to reassess its approach as new information becomes available.

Canadian cattle returning from the U.S.

Due to the presence of HPAI (H5N1) in the United States dairy cattle population, the CFIA advises against all Canadian cattle travelling to and participating in agricultural exhibitions in the U.S. at this time. For more information on additional requirements:

As of August 14, 2024, cattle returning after a stay of less than 60 days require additional certification
Advisory: Guidance and precautions for participation in United States agricultural exhibitions to mitigate the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canadian cattle
Follow the guidance in sample collection and submission to collect the necessary samples for post-return testing for cattle from U.S. exhibitions applies

Provincial and territorial reporting requirements and contact information

Provinces and territories where HPAI in cattle is a reporting requirement

British Columbia
BC Chief Veterinary Officer
604-556-3003
Chief.Veterinarian@gov.bc.ca

Manitoba
Manitoba Chief Veterinary Officer
431-323-5638
cvo-eoc@gov.mb.ca

New Brunswick
Dr. Nicole Wanamaker
506-433-0493
nicole.wanamaker@gnb.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador
Dr. Beverly Dawe
709-637-2042
beverlydawe@gov.nl.ca

Nova Scotia
Dr. Wilma Schenkels
902-890-2941
Dr.Wilma.Schenkels@novascotia.ca

Ontario
Dr. Greg Worley
519-826-3577
Greg.Worley@ontario.ca

Prince Edward Island
Dr. Jill Wood
902-370-4923
jswood@gov.pe.ca

Quebec
844-264-6289 (1 844 ANIMAUX)
animaux@mapaq.gouv.qc.ca

Saskatchewan
Dr. Wendy Wilkins
306-798-0253
wendy.wilkins@gov.sk.ca

Yukon
Dr. Michelle Thompson
867-456-5582
michelle.thompson@yukon.ca

Provinces and territories where HPAI in cattle is not a reporting requirement

Alberta
Alberta Chief Veterinary Officer
780-427-3448
Chief.Prov.Vet@gov.ab.ca

Northwest Territories
Dr. Naima Jutha
867-767-9237 ext. 53232
Naima_Jutha@gov.nt.ca

Nunavut
N/A

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