Canada TightensImport Requirementson US Cattle Amid Bird Flu Concerns

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has strengthened import requirements on US breeding cattle effective April 29, 2024, following confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a US dairy herd on March 25 and a human case on April 1. The enhanced measures aim to prevent the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus into Canada through stricter testing and monitoring.

Why this matters: The spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus poses a significant threat to global food security and public health, and Canada's tightenedimport requirements are a crucial step in mitigating this risk. As the virus continues to spread, it is essential for countries to work together to prevent its transmission and protect their citizens.

The new import requirements include negative HPAI test results for lactating dairy cattle, testing of milk at the retail level to detect viral fragments of HPAI, and voluntary testing of cows not showing clinical signs of the virus. Since 2022, the H5N1 bird flu virus has infected over 90 million chickens, more than 9,000 wild birds, 34 dairy herds, and two humans in the United States.

As of May 1, 2024, the virus has spread to 36 American herds in 9 US states, with the first case detected on March 25 at a Texas dairy farm. The virus has also been found in some American milk samples, although only in harmless fragments in pasteurized store-bought samples. Pasteurization kills the virus in milk, but raw milk poses a risk.

The CFIA reassured Canadians that commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume, as milk from dairy cows in Canada must be pasteurized before sale, killing harmful bacteria and viruses. A new study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that pasteurization of dairy products is effective in inactivating the HPAI virus, even when fragments of the virus remain.

TheGovernment of Canadais expanding its surveillance to manage the possible emergence of HPAI in Canada, working with stakeholders to enhance monitoring and testing of animals, implement additional biosecurity measures, and increase awareness and education amongfarmers. Daniel Poirier, a Lefaivre-area producer, advises,"Especially for people who are buying a lot of cows because you never know where they're coming from."

The risk of transmission from cows to humans is low, but the World Health Organization views the virus as a global pandemic threat of "enormous concern". The US Department of Agriculture has mandated that dairy cattle be tested for the virus as a condition of moving them out of state, effective April 24. Canadian authorities have not started testing milk for evidence of the virus but are urging dairy farmers to stay vigilant with biosecurity protocols.

The heightened concerns in the US and Canada about the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus to animals and people have led to stricter import requirements and expanded surveillance measures. The CFIA and other Canadian health agencies are closely monitoring the situation and will take immediate action if any potential food safety or animal health risks are identified. Dairy farmers are encouraged to maintain robust biosecurity practices to minimize the risk of virus transmission.

Key Takeaways

• Canada tightens import requirements for US breeding cattle due to H5N1 bird flu cases.
• New requirements include negative HPAI test results and testing of milk at retail level.
• H5N1 virus has infected 90M chickens, 9,000 wild birds, 34 dairy herds, and 2 humans in the US.
• Pasteurization kills the virus in milk, making commercially sold milk and products safe.
• Canada expands surveillance and urges dairy farmers to maintain robust biosecurity practices.