Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) FAQ

B3.13 is the genotype that is responsible for most of the dairy cases in the US.

We have not detected B3.13 in Canadian poultry or cattle. B3.13 has not been detected in wild migratory birds. D1.1 is the predominant genotype circulating in migratory birds.

Turnaround time from the time of submission to getting a test result will depend on shipping times, business hours and which lab the samples are sent to. The turnaround times may vary depending on the reason for test (e.g. suspect case vs health check). When the disease is suspected, results are usually available in 24 hours from the time of receipt at the lab.

To find a lab: CFIA-approved animal health diagnostic laboratories - inspection.canada.ca

We sample milk from trucks delivering to processors in the program. This creates two main uncertainties:

• Geographic coverage of milk collection – We don’t know the exact farms each processor collects from, and this sometimes changes over time. The milk marketing boards review the processors included in the program to ensure there is broad geographic coverage.
• Which farms are sampled – Routes change often, and the same route number can serve different farms.

We randomize collection days to capture different routes, but it’s not systematic, and farms may be sampled repeatedly. Farms supplying processors outside the program aren’t sampled at all. 

While HPAI may be lower on the list when there is another diagnosis, samples can be sent in for testing. When samples are submitted, provinces may manage responses to submissions differently and may reach out to get more information. Check with your province to understand details of the process in your province.

• In general, good biosecurity practice is to isolate sick animals and use dedicated staff and equipment.
• However, based on clinical signs alone, it is impossible to know which cattle may be shedding virus so isolating cattle with clinical signs will not be enough to stop the spread on a farm.
• We have heard this from anecdotes in the US: once it’s on a farm, it will make its way around the farm to infect all the cattle even with precautions in place

• Supportive care (NSAIDs, fluids)... some US producers used the detection of a positive bulk tank test as a warning to prepare to manage a number of sick cows (i.e. get staff and resources in place).
• As always, drug withdrawal times apply and milk from sick cows should not go into the bulk tank.

Cattle in affected herds are under movement controls, but animals may be culled while the herd is considered affected (during the outbreak):

• Direct to slaughter:
  • Healthy animals may be sent for slaughter as long as written notification is provided to the abattoir and abattoir conditions are met.
  • For example: conditions for a federal abattoir include:
    • written notification to abattoir,
    • negative test for lactating cattle,
    • no clinical signs,
    • subject to segregation at the abattoir
  • conditions for provincial abattoirs may vary – talk to your provincial animal health authority

• Euthanasia on-farm; deadstock may be controlled, provincial options may differ.
• Continue feeding until herd is no longer considered affected and there are no restrictions for sending to abattoir (timing may be prolonged)

Other options may be available depending on the province.

• From a national regulatory standpoint, the objectives of movement controls on an HPAI affected herd are to contain the virus to the premises and prevent onward transmission.
• Provincial plans will determine what is acceptable under these objectives and may have test requirements or conditions under which to authorize movements.
• From a federal standpoint, if animals are authorized to move out of an affected herd, they are still not eligible for export to the US for 60 days from the time of last exposure to an affected herd.

There is nothing in the HPAI in Dairy Cattle Event Response Plan to prevent restocking. Provincial plans may vary.

• Waste milk must not enter the bulk tank, as per normal industry standards. Untreated waste milk should not be fed to other animals, including calves.
• The gold standard for waste milk management is heat treatment on farm to equivalent temperatures to pasteurization. However, recognizing that this may not be possible for a variety of reasons, provincial plans may include alternatives in keeping with the national objectives of containing the virus to the premises and preventing onward transmission.

• Unless untreated waste milk is dumped into a manure pit, there are no federal requirements for the provinces to control manure.
• However, because untreated waste milk is likely to be dumped in a manure pit prior to detection of the herd, we anticipate that the manure pit will be implicated on most affected farms for a minimum of 60 days when the average daily temperature is at or above 4⁰C.
• The 60-day countdown begins on the day following the last addition of untreated waste milk to the manure pit.

• There is currently no approved vaccine for HPAI in dairy in Canada.
• There are vaccines in the US that are conditionally approved in the US
• In the US, vaccination has not been implemented for dairy cattle because of economic and political considerations.

• Movement controls will apply to affected herds (i.e. during the outbreak).
• Once a herd is no longer considered affected there is no national regulatory oversight to prevent movement of cattle.
• However, cattle from an affected herd are not eligible for export for 60 days after the herd is considered no longer affected

• Affected herds usually experience financial losses through loss of milk production, treatment of sick cattle, early culling, reproductive losses and death.
• There is no compensation for affected farms from CFIA because no animals or things are ordered destroyed in the response for HPAI in dairy.
• Some AAFC programs may be available. These programs are mostly administered by the provinces and producers should contact the province directly to better understand the support available.
• Producers may wish to consult with their province, industry and/or insurance to understand if additional support options are available.