As Avian Flu Detected in US Dairy Farms, Canadian Agency Releases Domestic Test Results

Amid the spread of avian flu in U.S. dairy cattle, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced the results of its proactive monitoring of dairy products in Canada, indicating that “commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume.” All milk sold in Canada must be pasteurized, a process that kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreading in the United States, the agency added in a June 18 press release.. While avian influenza, often called bird flu, has been around for decades, it only jumped to cows in recent months, with HPAI first detected in U.S. dairy cows on March 25. As of June 21, 112 cases of the HPAI virus have been detected in dairy cattle across 12 states, including 25 cases each in Idaho and Michigan, 17 in Texas, and 12 in Colorado, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Other states reported fewer than 10 cases each....