Results of a national testing program conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released June 18 showed no evidence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country’s milk supply. "Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume," said a release from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It was also noted that even if traces of the virus were found, the pasteurization process would have rendered them harmless.

Bovine bird flu reports still at zero in Canada

Dairy testing for bird flu expanded in Canada
Non-clinical dairy cattle eligible for funded testing
Reading Time: < 1 minute The CFIA updated its guidance around highly pathogenic avian influenza for dairy vets June 17

Dairy testing for bird flu expanded in Canada
Non-clinical dairy cattle eligible for funded testing
On June 17, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency updated their guidance for private veterinarians on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The update noted the expanded eligibility for testing, and that the CFIA would cover lab test fees at any Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN) lab that is approved to test samples in domestic animals. The agency will not, however, pay veterinarian fees for sample collection or shipment to the lab.

US to research possible respiratory spread of bird flu in cows
U.S. federal and state agencies are planning research into potential respiratory spread of bird flu among dairy cattle, according to a Reuters interview with Michigan state agriculture and public health officials.

Bird flu outbreak reported in Minnesota dairy herd, the state’s first
The ongoing U.S. outbreak of avian flu in dairy cattle reached Minnesota on Thursday as the state announced its first infected herd.

Cows infected with bird flu have died in five US states
Dairy cows infected with avian flu in five U.S. states have died or been slaughtered by farmers because they did not recover, state officials and academics told Reuters.

Bird flu reported in Iowa dairy herd, expanding US outbreak in cows
Iowa, which is projected to be the tenth biggest milk-producing state this year, is the first new state to find an infected dairy herd since the U.S. confirmed an outbreak in Colorado on April 26.

Bird flu infects third US dairy worker; Michigan set to expand testing
A third U.S. dairy worker tested positive for bird flu after exposure to infected cows, and was the first to suffer respiratory problems, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Bird flu found in U.S. alpacas
The bird flu strain that has infected dairy cattle herds in nine U.S. states has been detected in alpacas, says the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Dutch government plans to vaccinate poultry against bird flu
Two vaccines have proved effective in in research but haven't been tried on-farm
Bird flu vaccines for laying hens are effective in practice, the Dutch government said on Tuesday, while confirming plans to vaccinate poultry against the virus.