Canadian milk tests negative for bird flu

Canadian milk continues to test negative for avian influenza, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said.

The agency said as of Dec. 19 it has tested 1,432 samples of raw milk from across Canada for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). All samples have tested negative.

“This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced into the national herd,” the CFIA said on its website.

While several HPAI outbreaks have been reported in Canadian poultry flocks in recent months, and one serious human case reported in a B.C. teenager, no cases have been reported in Canadian cattle herds.

In the last 30 days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed 225 cases of avian influenza in cattle, with the bulk in California.