From: Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Public
Health Agency of Canada
OTTAWA,
ON, May 3, 2024 /CNW/ - With recent news of
dairy cattle in the United States
testing positive for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
and reports of fragments of HPAI detected in pasteurized milk sold
in the U.S., we understand that Canadians may be concerned about
the safety of milk and milk products.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Public Health
Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health
Canada are monitoring this situation closely and would like to
reassure Canadians that commercially sold milk and milk products
remain safe to consume.
Milk from dairy cows in Canada
must be pasteurized before sale. This process kills harmful
bacteria and viruses, ensuring milk and milk products are safe to
drink and eat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this
week the results of a new study that shows that the pasteurization
of dairy products is effective in inactivating the virus that
causes HPAI, even when fragments of the virus remain.
HPAI is a reportable disease in Canada. This means any person suspecting a
case of HPAI in an animal, whether in poultry or livestock, must
report it to the CFIA. Confirmed and probable human cases are also
reportable to PHAC.
In addition to the robust protective measures that already exist,
the Government of Canada, in
collaboration with stakeholders, is expanding its surveillance to
manage the possible emergence of HPAI in Canada by:
- requiring negative HPAI test results for lactating dairy cattle
being imported from the United
States to Canada.
- conducting enhanced testing of milk at the retail level to look
for viral fragments of HPAI.
- facilitating the voluntary testing of cows that are not
presenting with clinical signs of HPAI to facilitate enhanced
industry biosecurity efforts.
If the CFIA becomes aware of any potential food safety or
animal health risks, immediate actions will be taken to help
protect Canada's food supply and
livestock. These measures complement the existing comprehensive and
integrated approach to human surveillance of influenza in
Canada, and will inform and
support the range of ongoing preparation actions undertaken by PHAC
with its partners to protect human health.
While the risk of transmission to humans remains low the
Government of Canada, the
provinces and territories, as well as our colleagues in
the United States, are working
together to actively monitor, prepare and respond as necessary to
this evolving situation to help safeguard Canada's cattle and protect the health of
people in Canada.
Quick Facts
- HPAI is not a food safety concern. Canada has been managing the outbreak of avian
influenza since its first detection in poultry here in December 2021. There is no evidence to suggest
that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit HPAI to humans.
It is safe to consume fully cooked poultry and eggs.
- As a result of finding HPAI in dairy cattle in the U.S. CFIA
enhanced import requirements on dairy cattle from the U.S. as of
April 29, 2024.
- Canada already has specific
import requirements in place to prevent the introduction of animal
diseases into the country to help protect its people, animals and
plants. Import conditions for cattle can be found in the policy
Requirements for Breeding Cattle Imported from the United States to Canada.
- Ongoing federal preparedness actions for HPAI span the
continuum from monitoring/surveillance and risk assessment,
laboratory capacity, updated guidance and communications, science
coordination, and medical countermeasure readiness.
Related links
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock
- Avian Influenza
- Fact Sheet – Avian Influenza
- Animal biosecurity
- Importing food to Canada:
general requirements
- Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (FDA)
- Avian Influenza A(H5N1): For health professionals
- Avian influenza A(H5N1): Symptoms and treatment
- Avian influenza A(H5N1): Prevention and risks - Canada.ca
- AI wildlife handling guidance webpage
- Rapid Risk Assessment: Avian influenza A(H5N1) clade
2.3.4.4b in livestock
Stay connected
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LinkedIn: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)