AHC shares update on US HPAI situation in dairy cattle during Big Bug Day

Big Bug Day is an annual event organized by Swine Health Ontario to allow swine producers and owners an opportunity to receive updates and discuss existing or emerging issues.

This year, it was held on December 4, 2024 and Emergency Management Project Lead, Afolakemi Adeniji DVM, provided an update on the US highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation in dairy cattle on behalf of the interim Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS) Division Director, Dr. Murray Gillies. She emphasized the importance of practicing good biosecurity measures on farms, given the two confirmed cases of HPAI in swine in the US. This includes avoiding co-mingling housing of pigs with other farms animals and the reasons why.

AHC's Emergency Management and CAHSS divisions have been working collaboratively to share up-to-date information on the emerging disease of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) detected in dairy cattle in some states in the US. While it is not currently detected in Canada, it is important to continue to raise awareness of the situation to all animal health stakeholders and provide proactive biosecurity strategies.