Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has not been detected in dairy cattle or other livestock in Canada.

We are monitoring this rapidly evolving situation closely. Updates will be made 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

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in unpasteurized milk from sick dairy cattle in some areas of the United States.

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. Milk from dairy cows in Canada must be pasteurized before sale.

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:
- minimizing the entry of new animals into your herd
- if the entry of new animals into the herd is necessary, isolate these animals from the rest of your herd
- isolating any sick animals
- 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.

As of April 29, 2024, Canada requires testing for HPAI with negative result on imported lactating dairy cattle from the U.S. For more information, see Notice to industry: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States of America.

We will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and will consider any additional measures, as necessary.

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