Saskatchewan cattle herd declared infected with bovine tuberculosis

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigation and testing following a November 29, 2024, case of bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) has detected the disease in the birth herd of the infected animal.

There have been three additional confirmed cases in the animals tested to date. All animals over twelve months of age will be tested to determine the prevalence of the disease, and the entire herd will be humanely depopulated.

The Compensation for Destroyed Animals and Things Regulations will guide compensation payments for the affected producer.

Process and next steps

In all cases where federally-regulated diseases are suspected or confirmed, the goal is to take appropriate and prudent disease control measures while minimizing disruptions to producers.

The CFIA is continuing to work closely with producers, industry associations, and provincial and federal agricultural and health authorities throughout the investigation.

The three infected animals were not born in the herd currently being tested. The disease investigation and applicable movement controls will immediately include the source herds of the infected animals.

The CFIA investigation will include:

• the testing of herds that have been in contact with infected herd,
• the tracing of animals that left the infected herd in the last 5 years and the testing of implicated herds as required,
• the tracing of animals that provided animals to the infected herd in the last 5 years and the testing of implicated herds as required.

Detailed information on bovine tuberculosis and what can be expected during an investigation is available on the CFIA website. Investigation updates will be posted as more information becomes available.

Strain of bovine TB identified

Laboratory culture results from the November 29, 2024 infected animal found a strain that has never been identified in animals or humans in Canada, and the origin of the strain is unknown. It is not closely related to any of the recent strains in Western Canada.

A collaborative approach

Disease investigations require a great deal of cooperation and collaboration.

Affected producers and industry associations, as well as federal and provincial departments, are cooperating in the ongoing investigation. The common goal is to protect human health, protect the health of Canadian livestock and, in the process, maintain market access.

All areas of Canada have been considered officially bovine TB-free in its farmed bovine and cervid species since 2006. An investigation of this detection will support international market access for Canada’s beef industry.

Low risk for the public

Bovine TB is a reportable disease in Canada and has been subject to a mandatory national eradication program since 1923. While all areas of Canada are considered to be officially free of bovine TB today, isolated cases in cattle may occur.

Human cases of bovine TB are very rare. Exposure can occur through the passage of fluids from an infected animal to an open skin sore, extended close contact with an animal with active respiratory TB or consuming raw or unpasteurized animal products (such as unpasteurized milk) from an infected animal. Generally, bovine TB does not pose a threat to public health in Canada because of the extremely low prevalence of the disease, the abattoir surveillance and testing programs in place, and practices such as pasteurization of milk.

This is an industry notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Status updates of the 2024 investigation can be found here.