The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has
launched an investigation into a case of bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) in a
beef cow in British Columbia.
Bovine TB is a reportable disease in Canada
and has been subject to a mandatory national eradication program since 1923.
On October 26, 2018, a mature beef cow was identified
with TB at a federally-inspected packing plant.
The carcass was condemned, and no portions of
the animal entered the food chain.
Samples were shipped to the CFIA's Ottawa Laboratory–Fallowfield on
October 29, 2018, and arrived October 31. On November 9, laboratory testing
results confirmed a case of bovine TB. The animal was traced to a farm in the
southern interior of British Columbia.
The CFIA is continuing to work closely with
the producers, industry associations, and provincial and federal agricultural
and health authorities throughout the investigation.
This finding should not affect Canada's
current international status in which all provinces are considered bovine
TB-free. This status supports international trade for Canada's beef industry.
The CFIA is in the very early stages of its
investigation. It has begun tracing movements of the animal in the infected
herd to try to identify the source and any potential spread of the disease.
This involves identifying all herds that have
come in contact with the infected animal during its life. The CFIA has also
begun testing to identify the strain of the bacterium as this may inform if
there are connections to previous cases.
As the investigation proceeds, the CFIA will
trace the movement of animals to and from the infected herd during the past
five years to identify and eliminate the source and any potential spread of the
disease. Because the investigation is in the early stages, the exact number of
herds involved and the time to complete the investigation are not yet known.
