Canada Initiates Milk Testing for H5N1 Amid U.S. Dairy Herd Outbreaks
Canadian laboratories have begun testing milk samples for the H5N1 avian influenza strain, following outbreaks in U.S. dairy herds, amid concerns that the infection could spread to Canadian cattle.
Although there have been no reported cases of H5N1 infections in Canadian dairy cows, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting extensive milk testing. Additionally, a team of scientists nationwide is performing routine tests on retail milk samples.
“We aim to detect any potential outbreaks as swiftly as possible by regularly testing Canadian milk from various regions over time,” stated Dr. Hannah Wallace, PhD, a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
“We aim to detect any potential outbreaks as swiftly as possible by regularly testing Canadian milk from various regions over time,” stated Dr. Hannah Wallace, PhD, a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
This proactive measure is part of Canada’s broader efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of its dairy industry in light of the ongoing challenges posed by avian influenza.
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