To combat cow flue outbreak, scientists plan to infect cattle with influenza in high-security labs - June 26

The avian influenza virus that has been infecting dairy cows and spreading alarm in the United States was expected to reach Germany this week. But that’s actually good news. A shipment of samples of the H5N1 virus from Cornell University virologist Diego Diel is destined for the Federal Research Institute for Animal Health in Riems, which has one of the rare high-security labs worldwide that are equipped to handle such dangerous pathogens in cattle and other large animals. There, veterinarian Martin Beer will use the samples to infect dairy cows, in search of a fuller picture of the threat the virus poses, to both cattle and people, than researchers have been able to glean from spotty data collected in the field.

Six weeks into the outbreak that has spread to farms in nine U.S. states, the flow of data from those locations remains limited as public health officials sort out authorities and some farms resist oversight. “It’s incredibly difficult to get the right sample sets off the infected farms,” says Richard Webby, an avian influenza researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “It’s clearly a barrier to understanding what’s going on. … That’s why these experimental infections of cows are really going to be super informative.

(University of Nebraska Medicine)

Update On HPAI cases by state - June 21

As of June 21, H5N1 infections have been confirmed in at least 112 dairy cattle herds in a dozen states: 25 each in Idaho and Michigan, 20 in Texas, 12 in Colorado, eight in New Mexico, seven in Iowa, six in Minnesota, five in South Dakota, four in Kansas, and one each in North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming.

Three individuals exposed to infected cattle have been confirmed as infected, according to Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) representative on the House Advisory Panel.

The CDC is conducting genetic sequencing of the virus from all human cases, and doing comparative analyses between human and animal sequences to assess the viruses for genetic changes that could indicate if the virus is adapting and spreading more easily, she continued.

(American Veterinary Medical Association)

Q&A On Most Common HPAI Questions - June 4

Two Michigan farm workers have been diagnosed with avian, or bird, flu, after an outbreak in dairy cows in the United States. The virus has also been detected in domesticated chickens, leading to the slaughter of flocks across the nation.

We asked Teena Chopra, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, to answer questions about bird flu, its effects on humans and how worried we should be about transmission from animals to humans.

Dr. Chopra serves as the corporate medical director of Hospital Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Stewardship at the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University. One of the founding leaders of the WSU Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases, she championed the mammoth task of leading COVID-19 pandemic efforts for Wayne State University and the DMC. She serves on the president’s COVID Task Force and on the President’s Public Health Committee. She has appeared in countless media and print interviews, including CNN, FOX, NPR and TIME magazine. She is a fellow of the Executive Leadership Academy of Medicine.

What exactly is “bird flu?”
Recent reports have highlighted cases of avian influenza among dairy cows in Texas, with three human cases, two in Michigan. The strain, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A (H5N1), or HPAI, has been around for more than two decades, primarily affecting birds with high contagiousness and fatality rates. While transmission to humans is possible (typically through direct contact with infected birds, such as during hunting), efficient human-to-human spread has not been observed.

How worried should I be about Avian flu? How did it jump to cows and then to humans?
Given no evidence of human-to-human transmission, this is not a worrisome situation. Unless you work closely with wild birds or animals, your risk is minimal.

While transmission to humans is possible (typically through direct contact with infected birds), efficient human-to-human spread has not been observed. However, the virus's ability to mutate increases with each interspecies transmission event.

Recent developments indicate heightened activity:
Avian infections declined from 2016 to 2022. Since 2022, the United States. has faced its most significant and prolonged avian flu outbreak, initially among wild birds and then spreading to domestic poultry, causing shortages of eggs and price hikes.
Notably, avian flu cases in mammals have emerged globally, affecting seals, bears, mountain lions and foxes.

Authorities reported HPAI infections in cows across multiple dairy farms in five states, with laboratory analysis revealing:

The virus strain infecting cows matches the one affecting birds, indicating interspecies transmission.

Despite familiarity with the virus, no significant mutations have been detected so far, suggesting limited human-to-human transmission potential. Unlike pigs, which serve as dangerous hosts due to their possession of both avian and human receptors, cows do not exhibit similar characteristics, reducing the risk of becoming influenza "mixing vessels."

Have there been rounds of bird flu in humans before, and if so, what happened?
While it can infect humans, the virus has never been able to spread efficiently among humans.

What are the symptoms?
In the three reported human cases, mild symptoms, including red eye and mild respiratory symptoms like cough and congestion, were noted.

How do I tell if I have it? Is there a specific test?
Yes, there is a specific test that can detect the virus.

Can I get it from eggs, milk or the meat of infected animals?
You cannot get avian flu from eating poultry or eggs or meat. Pasteurization is a critical step in ensuring the safety of milk in commercial supply chains. It helps eliminate harmful pathogens, including viruses like influenza, making the milk safe to consume. Raw milk, on the other hand, hasn't undergone this pasteurization process and can pose significant health risks due to potential contamination with bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms. It's always best to stick with pasteurized milk from reputable sources to minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses.

What can I do to avoid catching Avian flu?
Right now, there is nothing to do if you are not in close contact with wild birds or cattle.

Is the annual flu vaccination protection against Avian flu?
There is no vaccine currently, but it can be quickly made if there were any evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Latest Update on states with cattle restrictions - June 3

Update on Idaho Cattle HPAI - May 29

Alpacas infected with H5N1 in Idaho - May 28

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in alpacas from a premises where HPAI-affected poultry were depopulated in May 2024. While this HPAI confirmation is not unexpected due to the previous HPAI detection on the premises, the high amount of virus in the environment, and co-mingling of multiple livestock species on-farm, it is the first HPAI detection in alpacas.

NVSL has confirmed that the viral genome sequence for these samples is the same sequence currently circulating in dairy cattle (B3.13), which is consistent with sequences from the depopulated poultry on this premises. (NVSL PCR confirmation was completed on May 16. APHIS reported the confirmation to the World Organisation for Animal Health and on the HPAI livestock website upon completion of additional gene sequencing, per APHIS policy for disease detections in new species.) 

(USDA)

USDA Updates on H5N1 Beef Safety Studies - May 24

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the food supply, has conducted tests on beef tissue from 96 cull dairy cows condemned at select FSIS-inspected facilities. Meat from condemned cows is prohibited from entering the food supply. On May 22, 2024, viral particles were detected in tissue samples, including muscle, from one cow.  To date, samples from 95 cows have tested negative for viral particles. No meat from these dairy cattle entered the food supply. 

As part of this study, FSIS collected multiple tissues, including muscle samples from the diaphragm, at FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities from cull dairy cattle that have been condemned for systemic diseases. The samples were analyzed by APHIS using PCR to determine presence of viral particles. PCR testing does not differentiate between live virus or fragments. 

FSIS and APHIS are working together to conduct traceback, including notification to the producer to gather further information. 

FSIS personnel identified signs of illness in the positive animal during post-mortem inspection and prevented the animal from entering the food supply. This type of inspection is part of routine FSIS operations. These actions provide further confidence that the food safety system we have in place is working.

Further updates will be provided as testing is completed. 

BACKGROUND

While we have multiple safeguards in place to protect consumers, we continue to recommend consumers properly handle raw meats and cook to a safe internal temperature. Cooking to a safe internal temperature kills bacteria and viruses in meat. Specific recommendations are available online at: Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov).

ONGOING RESEARCH

To verify the safety of the meat supply in the context of H5N1, USDA’s FSIS, APHIS, and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are working on three separate beef safety studies related to avian influenza in meat from dairy cattle. These studies are taking place in the interest of scientific inquiry and reaffirm consumer confidence. 

1. Beef muscle sampling of cull dairy cows condemned at select FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities: FSIS completed collection of muscle samples at FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities from cull dairy cattle that have been condemned for systemic disease. No meat from these dairy cattle entered the food supply. The samples were analyzed by APHIS using PCR to determine presence of viral particles. 
   
   To date, testing has been completed on 96 out of 109 muscle samples that were collected. As of May 22, no viral particles were detected in 95 samples for which testing has been completed. NVSL reported that viral particles were detected in tissue samples, including diaphragm muscle, from one cow. 
   
   FSIS and APHIS are working together to conduct traceback, including notification to the producer to gather further information. 
   
   FSIS personnel identified signs of illness in the positive animal during post-mortem inspection and prevented the animal from entering the food supply – as is standard for the food inspection process. These actions provide further confidence that the food safety system we have in place is working. Further updates will be provided as testing is completed. 
2. Samples of ground beef obtained at retail in the affected States: Final results were posted on May 1, 2024. Samples were collected at retail outlets in the States in which dairy cattle herds have tested positive for H5N1 influenza virus. The samples were analyzed by APHIS using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to indicate whether any viral particles were present. No virus particles were found to be present.
3. Ground beef cooking study: Final results were posted on May 16, 2024. ARS inoculated a very high level of an H5N1 Influenza A virus into 300 grams ground beef patties (burger patties are usually 113 grams) to determine whether FSIS recommended cooking temperatures are effective in inactivating H5N1 virus. The burger patties were then cooked to three different temperatures (120, 145 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit), and virus presence was measured after cooking. There was no virus present in the burgers cooked to 145 (medium) or 160 (well done) degrees, which is FSIS’ recommended cooking temperature. Even cooking burgers to 120 (rare) degrees, which is well below the recommended temperature, substantially inactivated the virus.

Federal agencies announce assistance to help fight HPAI - May 16

On March 25, 2024, immediately following the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle region, USDA and HHS began their work to understand the origin of the emergence and its potential impact in bovines and humans. USDA experts also took swift action to trace animal movements, began sampling to assess the disease prevalence in herds, and initiated a variety of testing activities to confirm the safety of the meat and milk supplies alongside federal partners. On April 1, 2024, Texas reported the first and only confirmed human H5N1 infection associated with this outbreak, after confirmation by CDC. On April 24, 2024, USDA issued a Federal Order, that took effect on April 29, to limit the movement of lactating dairy cattle and to collect and aggregate H5N1 test results to better understand the nature of the outbreak.

Since the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle, the Federal response has leveraged the latest available scientific data, field epidemiology, and risk assessments to mitigate risks to workers and the general public, to ensure the safety of America’s food supply and to mitigate risk to livestock, owners, and producers. Today, USDA is taking a series of additional steps to help achieve these goals and reduce the impact of H5N1 on affected premises and producers, and HHS is announcing new actions through the CDC and FDA to increase testing and laboratory screening and testing capacity, genomic sequencing, and other interventions to protect the health and safety of dairy and other potentially impacted food items.

USDA

Today, USDA is announcing assistance for producers with H5N1 affected premises to improve on-site biosecurity in order to reduce the spread. In addition, USDA is taking steps to make available financial tools for lost milk production in herds affected by H5N1. Building on the Federal Order addressing pre-movement testing, these steps will further equip producers with tools they can use to keep their affected herds and workers healthy and reduce risk of the virus spreading to additional herds.

Protect against the potential for spread between human and animals. Provide financial support (up to $2,000 per affected premises per month) for producers who supply PPE to employees and/or provide outerwear uniform laundering, for producers of affected herds who facilitate the participation of their workers in USDA/CDC workplace and farmworker study.

Complementary to USDA’s new financial support for producers, workers who participate in the study are also eligible for financial incentives to compensate them for their time, regardless of whether the study is led by federal, state, or local public health professionals.

Support producers in biosecurity planning and implementation. Provide support (up to $1,500 per affected premises) to develop biosecurity plans based on existing secure milk supply plans. This includes recommended enhanced biosecurity for individuals that frequently move between dairy farms – milk haulers, veterinarians, feed trucks, AI technicians, etc. In addition, USDA will provide a $100 payment to producers who purchase and use an in-line sampler for their milk system.  

Provide funding for heat treatment to dispose of milk in a bio secure fashion. This will provide producers a safe option for disposal of milk. Heat treatment performed in accordance with standards set by FDA is the only currently available method considered to effectively inactivate the virus in milk. If a producer establishes a system to heat treat all waste milk before disposal, USDA will pay the producer up to $2,000 per affected premises per month.  

Reimburse producers for veterinarian costs associated with confirmed positive H5N1 premises. This provides support to producers to cover veterinary costs necessarily incurred for treating cattle infected with H5N1, as well as fees for veterinarians to collect samples for testing. This can include veterinary fees and/or specific supplies needed for treatment and sample collection. Veterinary costs are eligible to be covered from the initial date of positive confirmation at NVSL for that farm, up to $10,000 per affected premises.  

Offset shipping costs for influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). USDA will pay for the cost of shipping samples to NAHLN labs for testing. USDA will pay actual shipping costs, not to exceed $50 per shipment for up to 2 shipments per month for each affected premises.  Testing at NAHLN laboratories for samples associated with this event (e.g., pre-movement, testing of sick/suspect animals, samples from concerned producers) is already being conducted at no-cost to the producer.

Taken together, these tools represent a value of up to $28,000 per premises to support increased biosecurity activities over the next 120 days.

Compensate producers for loss of milk production. USDA is taking steps to make funding available from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to compensate eligible producers with positive herds who experience loss of milk production. While dairy cows that have been infected with H5N1 generally recover well, and there is little mortality associated with the disease, it does dramatically limit milk production, causing economic losses for producers with affected premises. USDA can support farmers with the ELAP program to offset some of these losses. This compensation program is distinct from the strategy to contain the spread.

Work with states to limit movement of lactating cattle. Additionally, USDA will work with and support the actions of States with affected herds as they consider movement restrictions within their borders to further limit the spread of H5N1 between herds to reduce further spread of this virus.

USDA will make $98 million in existing funds available to APHIS to fund these initiatives. If needed, USDA has the authority, with Congressional notification, to make additional funds available.

These additional measures build on a suite of actions USDA has taken to date. This includes implementation of the Federal Order to limit spread of the disease, coordinating with federal partners to share expertise and lab capacity, doubling down on our work with producers to practice good biosecurity measures, continuing to conduct investigations to determine how the virus is spread within and between farms, and analyzing and sharing sequences alongside validated epidemiological information.

The U.S. government is addressing this situation with urgency and through a whole-of-government approach. USDA is working closely with federal partners at FDA, which has the primary responsibility for the safety of milk and dairy products, by assisting with conducting lab testing at USDA labs. USDA is also working closely with federal partners at CDC, which has the primary responsibility for public health, by encouraging producer and industry cooperation with public health officials to get vital information necessary to assess the level of risk to human health. 

Additional details on how producers can access and apply for the financial tools is forthcoming.

HHS

Today, HHS announced new funding investments through CDC and FDA totaling $101 million to mitigate the risk of H5N1 and continue its work to test, prevent, and treat H5N1. Although the CDC’s assessment of the risk of avian influenza infection for the general public continues to remain low at this time, these investments reflect the Department’s commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of the American public.

Public and animal health experts and agencies have been preparing for avian influenza outbreak for 20 years. Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, which is why we continue to approach the outbreak with urgency. We stood up a response team which includes four HHS agencies – CDC, FDA, NIH and ASPR – which are working closely with USDA to:

• Ensure we keep communities healthy, safe, and informed;
• Ensure that our Nation’s food supply remains safe;
• Safeguard American agriculture and the livelihood and well-being of American farmers and farmworkers; and
• Monitor any and all trends to mitigate risk and prevent the spread of H5N1 among both people and animals.

Some examples of this work include:

• CDC monitoring of the virus to detect any changes that may increase risk to people, and updated avian flu guidance for workers to ensure people who work with dairy cows and those who work in slaughterhouses have the guides and information they need in both English and Spanish.
• CDC's ongoing discussions with multiple states about field investigations and incentives for workers who participate in these on-site studies. CDC has also asked health departments to distribute existing PPE stocks to farm workers, prioritizing those who work with infected cows. To help states comply with CDC recommendations, ASPR has PPE in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) available for states to request if needed.
• FDA’s close coordination with USDA to conduct H5N1 retail milk and dairy sample testing from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply. NIAID – a part of NIH - is also providing scientific support to this entire effort through six U. S. based Centers for Excellence for Influenza Research and Response, known as CEIRRs.

Today, in light of HHS’ ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of the American people and food supply, HHS announced additional resources to further these efforts through CDC and FDA:

CDC announced it has identified an additional $93 million to support its current response efforts for avian influenza. Building on bipartisan investments in public health, this funding will allow CDC to capitalize on the influenza foundation that has been laid over the last two decades, specifically where CDC has worked domestically and globally to prevent, detect, and respond to avian influenza.

These investments will allow CDC to bolster testing and laboratory capacity, surveillance, genomic sequencing, support jurisdictions and partner efforts to reach high risk populations and initiate a new wastewater surveillance pilot. 

• $34 million in Testing and Laboratory Capacity to:
  • Develop and optimize assays that can be used to sequence virus independent of virus identification.
  • Assess circulating H5N1 viruses for any concerning viral changes, including increased transmissibility or severity in humans or decreasing efficacy of diagnostics or antivirals.
  • Support the ability of STLT Public Health Labs throughout the country to surge their testing abilities, including support for the additional costs of shipping human avian influenza specimens, which are select agents.
  • Through the International Reagent Resource (IRR), support manufacture, storage, and distribution of roughly one thousand additional influenza diagnostic test kits (equaling nearly around one million additional tests) for virologic surveillance. The IRR would also provide influenza reagents for research and development activities on a global scale. This is in addition to current influenza testing capacity at CDC and in STLT public health and DOD labs, which is approximately 490,000 H5-specific tests.
  • Address the manufacturer issue detected with current avian flu test kits.
  • Initiate avian flu testing in one commercial laboratory.
• $29 million in Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Data Analytics to:
  • Scale up existing efforts to monitor people who are exposed to infected birds and poultry to accommodate workers at likely many more poultry facilities, as well as potentially workers at other agricultural facilities and other people (e.g., hunters) who may be exposed to species that pose a threat.
  • Scale up contact tracing efforts and data reporting to accommodate monitoring of contacts of additional sporadic cases.
  • Support the collection and characterization of additional clinical specimens through established surveillance systems from regions with large numbers of exposed persons to enhance the ability to detect any unrecognized cases in the community if they occur.
  • Expand respiratory virus surveillance to capture more samples from persons with acute respiratory illness in different care settings.
  • Support continuation and possible expansion of existing respiratory surveillance platforms and vaccine effectiveness platforms.
• $14 million in Genomic Sequencing to:
  • Provide bioinformatics and data analytics support for genomic sequencing at CDC that supports surveillance needs for enhanced monitoring.
  • Expand sequencing capacity for HPAI in state-level National Influenza Reference Centers (NIRCs), Influenza Sequencing Center (ISC), and Pathogen Genomic Centers of Excellence.
• $8 million in Vaccine Activities to:
  • Analyze circulating H5N1 viruses to determine whether current Candidate Vaccine Viruses (CVVs) would be effective and develop new ones if necessary.
• $5 million in STLT Jurisdiction/Partner Funding to:
  • Support partner efforts to reach high risk populations.
• $3 million in Wastewater Surveillance to:
  • Initiate wastewater pilot to evaluate the use case for HPAI in up to 10 livestock-adjacent sites in partnership with state and local public health agencies and utility partners.
  • Implement a study to evaluate the use of Influenza A sequencing in wastewater samples for highly pathogenic avian influenza typing. Initiate laboratory evaluation for HA typing and examine animal-specific markers in community wastewater to assess wildlife and livestock contribution and inform interpretation of wastewater data for action.

Additionally, the FDA is announcing an additional $8 million is being made available to support its ongoing response activities to ensure the safety of the commercial milk supply. This funding will support the agency’s ability to validate pasteurization criteria, conduct surveillance at different points in the milk production system, bolster laboratory capacity and provide needed resources to train staff on biosecurity procedures. Additionally, these funds will help support H5N1 activities in partnership with state co-regulatory partners, who administer state programs as part of the federal/state milk safety system. It may also allow the FDA to partner with universities on critical research questions.

Vilsack: Three things to know about HPAI - May 6

“One, the risk to people is low, two the food is safe and three the cattle are surviving,” he told RFD Radio Network’s DeLoss Jahnke and other farm broadcasters in Washington D.C. last week. “There’s a lot of conversation around all of this, but if you remember those three things, you’re remembering the most important aspects.”

Vilsack outlined the work USDA has done and continues to do about this issue including testing to ensure the safety of milk and beef, a federal order preventing transportation of infected cattle to limit movement of the disease, conversations with farmers to understand how the disease started and spread and research on vaccines.

H5N1 Beef Safety Studies - May 1

To verify the safety of the meat supply in the context of H5N1, USDA’s FSIS, APHIS, and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are working on three separate beef safety studies related to avian influenza in meat from dairy cattle. These studies are taking place in the interest of scientific inquiry and reaffirm consumer confidence. 

1. Samples of ground beef obtained at retail in the affected States: Final results were posted on May 1, 2024. Samples were collected at retail outlets in the States in which dairy cattle herds have tested positive for H5N1 influenza virus. The samples were analyzed by APHIS using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to indicate whether any viral particles were present. No virus particles were found to be present. 
2. Beef muscle sampling of cull dairy cows condemned at select FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities: FSIS is currently collecting muscle samples at FSIS-inspected slaughter facilities of cull dairy cattle that have been condemned for systemic pathologies. The samples will be analyzed by APHIS using PCR to determine presence of viral particles. The results are forthcoming and will be posted as soon as they become available. 
3. Ground beef cooking study: ARS will be conducting a beef cooking study and will be using a virus surrogate in ground beef and cooking it at different temperatures to determine log-reduction of the virus. The results will be posted as soon as they become available.

(aphis.usda.gov)

FDA finds no live HPAI in sour cream and cottage cheese, testing for raw milk - May 1

In updates today from federal agencies involved in the response to H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in dairy cows, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said egg inoculation tests on cottage cheese and sour cream that tested positive for traces of the virus traces showed no live virus.

Dairy products testing will extend to raw milk

At a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) briefing, Don Prater, DVM, acting director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, revealed preliminary data on a second set of retail dairy samples, a group of 201 that had tested positive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which can only identify virus fragments.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that preliminary tests on 96 PCR-positive retail milk samples were negative for live virus on follow-up tests using egg inoculation, considered the gold standard for determining viability.

Today the agency announced egg inoculation results for 201 more PCR-positive dairy product samples, which also included cottage cheese and sour cream. None showed any evidence of live virus, which Prater said reaffirms the FDA's assessment that the nation's retail milk supply is safe. So far, the FDA has tested 297 total retail dairy samples.

Earlier this week, the FDA said PCR tests were negative on samples of powered infant formula and powdered formula marketed for toddlers. Prater said the FDA will continue to analyze and share its data, but when asked if the agency has seen a regional pattern in the PCR-positives, he said milk bought in a state doesn't mean it was processed and pasteurized there.

Prater said the FDA has plans for more testing, including raw milk, which he said will give the agency a better picture of the viral load before pasteurization. In a statement, the FDA said it will test pooled raw milk that has been routed to pasteurization and processing for commercial use.

Even before the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows was first detected in late March, the FDA recommended against drinking raw milk due to potential contamination with pathogens.

USDA reports 2 more infected herds, details beef testing plans

Rosemary Sifford, DVM, deputy administrator veterinary services and chief veterinary officer with the USDA, said 36 outbreaks have now been reported in dairy herds from nine states. Yesterday the USDA added 2 earlier outbreaks from New Mexico to its total.

Sifford said so far the extent of the spread isn't clear and that the agency hopes to learn more, now that the federal order for sampling lactating dairy cattle before interstate movement is in effect as of April 29.

Evidence still suggests that the source of the virus is a single spillover from wild birds to dairy cattle in multiple herds in the Texas panhandle and that the virus is spreading among cows through milk, Sifford said. "We think milk is the primary vector."

She said there's still no evidence of the virus in beef herds.

We think milk is the primary vector.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has three beef sampling efforts under way, one involving ground beef, Sifford said, which was announced earlier this week. Another includes muscle sampling of culled dairy cows, though she said the virus doesn't seem to spread throughout the bodies of infected cows.

Another is to examine the effects of cooking beef patties at three different temperatures to ensure that the process kills the virus. "This will enhance the scientific data and add assurance to our safety statements," she said.

More than 100 exposed people have been monitored

Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, who directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said flu surveillance in areas where H5N1 has been detected still shows no unusual trends. More than 100 people who were exposed to the sick cattle have been monitored, and about 25 have been tested, he said.

So far the only human case was confirmed by Texas officials on April 1.

CDC scientists continue to characterize the virus, and efforts are under way to grow the virus isolated from the Texas patient to assess its severity and transmission in ferret studies, Daskalakis said. 

Two safety and efficacy studies have begun on vaccines from two different companies that are using one of the two H5N1 candidate vaccine viruses, he added.

More H5N1 positive tests in other mammals

Separately, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported eight more H5N1 confirmations in other mammals in seven states. The samples were collected from early December 2023 to the middle of March and were confirmed in March and April.

The animals include three bobcats (New York, Washington, and Vermont), two skunks (California and Idaho), a mink (Kentucky), a raccoon (New York), and a red fox (Missouri).

USDA testing ground beef for HPAI - April 30

The USDA is collecting samples of ground beef from retail stores to test for viral particles of the avian influenza in states where there have been infected dairy herds. The ag department is also collecting beef muscle samples for testing at slaughter facilities of dairy cattle than have been condemned due to an outbreak.

The USDA said that it found avian influenza particles in the lung tissue of a dairy cow that was sent to slaughter from an infected herd, although asymptomatic.

There is still no report of bird flu in beef cattle, and the ag department remains confident that the meat supply is safe. They recommend consumers properly handle raw meats and cook to a safe internal temperature.

Reuters

Could HPAI have circulating in US dairy cattle as early as 2023? - April 30

Watt Poultry Analysis suggests that highly pathogenic avian influenza may have entered the U.S. dairy herd late last year, as one in five milk samples in the country test positive for HPAI virus fragments. While it may be a truism to say that a virus must be present to be detected, simply reporting virus’ detection tells you little more than that. The March 25 statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza had been detected in dairy cattle for the first time was no more than that, an announcement that it had been detected. It would seem that the virus could have been present in the U.S. dairy herd since late last year.

A recently published paper in scientific journal Nature details an analysis, albeit preliminary and rapidly conducted, of scientific evidence entered into a public depository by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that suggests that the outbreak is likely to have begun in late December 2023 or early January 2024

Section taken from Watt Poultry shared by University of Nebraska Medicine

HPAI herds recovering in Kansas - April 29

KDA announced that HPAI was identified in two commercial dairy herds, and early April there were two additional herds in Kansas that reported positive tests. Data appears to indicate that the virus is no longer present after 21-30 days, which has already passed for the positive Kansas herds.

Section taken from Kanas Department of Agriculture news release

Colorado's first confirmed case of HPAI in dairy cattle - April 29

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cows in Northeast Colorado. This is the first detection of avian influenza diagnosed in cattle in Colorado. Detections of HPAI in dairy cattle have occurred in eight other states.

On Monday, April 22, the Colorado State Veterinarian’s office received a notification of a dairy herd demonstrating clinical signs consistent with HPAI in cattle. Samples submitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tested presumptive positive for HPAI on April 24, and were confirmed by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory on April 25.

“We continue to see this ongoing HPAI outbreak evolve and over the last month have seen transmission of the virus now move into dairy cattle. While we don't yet completely understand the mechanism of transmission of this virus, we do know that it appears to be spreading from cow to cow and between herds,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Baldwin. “It is critically important that producers implement enhanced biosecurity measures to mitigate the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.”

(Segment - Colorado Department of Agriculture)

Link For Full Federation Interstate Movement of Cattle Report - April 26

Click Here For Link

FDA Explains Current Testing Of Commercial Milk For HPAI Fragments - April 25

As noted by USDA and some press reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources, the presence of the virus has been detected in raw milk. Based on available information, pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus, however the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles. Therefore, some of the samples collected have indicated the presence of HPAI using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing.

During the course of the outbreak, the FDA has been evaluating milk from affected animals, in the processing system, and on the shelves. We are completing a large representative national sample, to better understand the extent of these findings. Because qPCR findings do not represent actual virus that may be a risk to consumers, the FDA is further assessing any positive findings through egg inoculation tests, a gold-standard for determining viable virus. To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. Results from multiple studies will be made available in the next few days to weeks.

Sound science is critical to informing public health decisions like those made by the FDA related to food safety and we take this current situation and the safety of the milk supply very seriously. We recognize the importance of releasing further, actionable information.

USDA Federal Order - Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza - April 24

FDA Releases Statement Connected to Pasteurization HPAI - April 23

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a disease that is highly contagious and often deadly in poultry, caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses; it is also known as bird or avian flu. HPAI viruses can be transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Although bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections have occurred. It is important to note that “highly pathogenic” refers to severe impact in birds, not necessarily in humans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state partners, continue to investigate an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus impacting dairy cows in multiple states. Infection with the virus is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms in affected cattle.

The FDA and USDA have indicated that based on the information currently available, our commercial milk supply is safe because of these two reasons: 1) the pasteurization process and 2) the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.

The pasteurization process has served public health well for more than 100 years. Pasteurization is a process that kills harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time to make milk safer. Even if virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health. However, pasteurization is different than complete sterilization; sterilization extends shelf life but is not required to ensure milk safety. While milk is pasteurized, not sterilized, this process has helped ensure the health of the American public for more than 100 years by inactivating infectious agents.

Nearly all (99%) of the commercial milk supply that is produced on dairy farms in the U.S. comes from farms that participate in the Grade “A” milk program and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which includes controls that help ensure the safety of dairy products. Pasteurization and diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows are two important measures that are part of the federal-state milk safety system.

There are a number of collective activities being undertaken to ensure the continued effectiveness of the federal-state milk safety system. In addition to these specific research activities, the FDA is collaborating closely with CDC's food safety group, as well as its surveillance team that’s monitoring emergency department data and flu testing data for any unusual trends in flu-like illness, flu, or conjunctivitis. To date, surveillance systems do not show any unusual trends or activity.

As noted by USDA and some press reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources, the presence of the virus has been detected in raw milk. Based on available information, pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus, however the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles. Therefore, some of the samples collected have indicated the presence of HPAI using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing.

During the course of the outbreak, the FDA has been evaluating milk from affected animals, in the processing system, and on the shelves. We are completing a large representative national sample, to better understand the extent of these findings. Because qPCR findings do not represent actual virus that may be a risk to consumers, the FDA is further assessing any positive findings through egg inoculation tests, a gold-standard for determining viable virus. To date, we have seen nothing that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe. Results from multiple studies will be made available in the next few days to weeks.

Sound science is critical to informing public health decisions like those made by the FDA related to food safety and we take this current situation and the safety of the milk supply very seriously. We recognize the importance of releasing further, actionable information.

Review of Available Data

Given that the detection of H5N1 in dairy cows is a novel and evolving situation, no studies on the effects of pasteurization on HPAI viruses (such as H5N1) in bovine milk have previously been completed although considerable scientific literature is available that has informed our current understanding.

The established pasteurization process set forth in the PMO provides specific times and temperature requirements[i] for effective pasteurization of known pathogens in the milk supply. Data from previous studies[ii, iii], that serve as the underpinnings of the FDA’s current milk supply safety assessment show that pasteurization is very likely to effectively inactivate heat-sensitive viruses, like H5N1, in milk from cows and other species. Additionally, data[iv, v, vi] shows thermal inactivation of HPAI (H5N1) has been successful during the pasteurization process for eggs, which occurs at lower temperatures than what is used for milk.

Ongoing Research

U.S. government partners have been working with deliberate speed on a wide range of studies looking at milk along all stages of production -- on the farm, during processing and on shelves -- using well- established methodologies used previously to confirm pasteurization effectiveness for known pathogens.

This work is a top priority, and we are proceeding in an efficient, methodical, and scientific fashion to ensure the continued effectiveness and safety of the federal-state milk safety system.

Laboratory benchtop tests are the first part of this ongoing work. This includes testing laboratory generated samples inoculated with high levels of a recently isolated and closely related avian flu virus and samples of raw, unpasteurized milk directly from cows in affected herds with and without symptoms to understand how, and at what levels, heat treatment (pasteurization) inactivates the virus.

While this information is important, this testing alone cannot provide a complete picture as these samples are not representative of what we would expect to see in the real-world from milk routed to pasteurization and processing for commercial use.

In addition to lab testing, a critical step in the scientific confirmation process includes testing of milk that is representative of real-world scenarios in which milk is typically pooled in large amounts from numerous healthy cows from numerous farms before pasteurizing and processing.

Work is underway to test samples of milk in systems that represent current industry practices using the range of temperature and time combinations that are used in pasteurization processes.

Additional analysis is underway of milk on store shelves across the country in addition to work to evaluate any potential differentiation for various types of dairy products (e.g., whole milk, cream).

We are aware that universities or other entities are conducting work in this area, particularly universities and consortia supported by the National Institutes of Health. We look forward to reviewing all results generated from various scientific studies, testing methods and the product(s) used as we continue assessing all the data and information available. We are committed to collaborating with the broad community to come to sound scientific conclusions regarding this situation -- which it’s important to understand takes time.

Data Considerations

Multiple tests are used to assess the safety of food items. Understanding how and why different methodologies are used and work, as well as how results fit into the larger picture, is critical to interpret any findings.

• Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a screening tool used to determine the presence or absence of an organism’s genetic material in a sample. A positive qPCR means that the genetic material from the targeted pathogen was detected in the sample, but that does not mean that the sample contains an intact, infectious pathogen. That’s because qPCR tests will also detect the residual genetic material from pathogens killed by heat, like pasteurization, or other food safety treatments. Importantly, additional testing is required to determine whether intact pathogen is still present and if it remains infectious, which determines whether there is any risk of illness associated with consuming the product.
• Embryonated Egg Viability Studies are considered the “gold standard” for sensitive detection of active, infectious virus. These studies are one of the types of additional tests necessary following PCR testing. These studies are done by injecting an embryonated chicken egg with a sample and then evaluating to see whether any active virus replicates. While this provides the most sensitive results, it takes a longer time to complete than other methods.
• Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) Cell Culture is different type of additional test used following PCR testing to detect live, infectious virus. This is done by injecting a sample into specific tissue cells to determine whether any live virus is present and replicates. This method can usually be done more quickly than embryonated egg viability studies, but it is not as sensitive and may provide false negative results when the amount of virus in the sample is very low.

Precautions for Raw Milk

The FDA has a long-standing recommendation to consumers not to consume raw milk (milk that has not been pasteurized). Because of the limited information available about the possible transmission of H5N1 virus via raw milk, the FDA continues to recommend that industry does not manufacture or sell raw milk or raw milk products, including raw milk cheese, made with milk from cows showing symptoms of illness, including those infected with avian influenza viruses or exposed to those infected with avian influenza viruses.

Importantly, the FDA has also recommended producers take precautions when discarding milk from affected cows so that the discarded milk does not become a source of further spread. Producers should consult with their state regulatory authorities for specific recommendations or requirements; however, such precautions should include heat treatment, pasteurization or its equivalent, of discarded milk prior to dumping in lagoons or application of waste solids and ensuring biosecurity around lagoons (e.g., ensuring that animals and birds do not have access to lagoons). Any raw milk or raw milk products from exposed cattle that are fed to calves (or to other animals, such as farm cats) should be heat treated or pasteurized.

Conclusion

The PMO and pasteurization continue to provide important measures to assure milk safety. Given this is the first time we have seen this virus affect cows, these are the first studies that have been initiated to look at the effectiveness of pasteurization on HPAI viruses such as H5N1 in bovine milk.

As previously noted, the FDA is collaborating closely with CDC's food safety group, as well as its surveillance team that’s monitoring emergency department data and flu testing data for any unusual trends in flu-like illness, flu, or conjunctivitis. To date, surveillance systems do not show any unusual trends or activity. Only one associated human case from a person exposed to infected cows has been linked with this outbreak in dairy cows to date and CDC says risk to the general public remains low.

The FDA and USDA are working closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to H5N1 in dairy cattle and to support state counterparts as this emerging disease in dairy cattle is managed. These important efforts are ongoing, and we are committed to sharing results as soon as possible. In the meantime, the FDA and USDA continue to indicate that based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe.

USDA published H5N1 genetic sequences on publicly available site - April 21

Today, the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories made available 239 genetic sequences from the U.S. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b influenza virus recently found in samples associated with the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in poultry and wild birds, and the recent H5N1 event in dairy cattle. APHIS routinely publishes influenza genetic sequence data on GISAID (the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data); however, in the interest of public transparency and ensuring the scientific community has access to this information as quickly as possible to encourage disease research and development to benefit the U.S. dairy industry, APHIS is also rapidly sharing raw sequence data to the National Institute of Health’s National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Sequences posted are from cattle, cats, chickens, skunk, racoon, grackle, blackbird, and goose.   APHIS will continue making additional raw genetic sequences available on a rolling basis at Home - SRA - NCBI (nih.gov); use the search term “WGS of H5N1”. 

BIAV Emergency Import Requirements For Cattle in Oregon - April 17

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) enacted emergency import requirements for cattle being imported into the State of Oregon from any state with cattle currently affected by HPAI/BIAV. In addition to existing import requirements, these emergency import requirements include:

• No cattle exposed to, infected with, or suspected to be carrying HPAI/BIAV may be imported into Oregon. 
• Non-lactating dairy cattle require:
  • A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon; and
  • A valid Import Permit issued by ODA. 
• Lactating dairy cattle require: 
  • A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon; and 
  • A valid Import Permit issued by ODA; and 
  • A negative individual or laboratory-pooled PCR test for influenza A, conducted on milk samples collected no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon. ​​

The full rule is available online through the Oregon Secretary of State's website. View Oregon Administrative Rule 603-011-5007.

FDA releases Q&A on milk safety including raw milk question - April 17

Click HERE for Q&A Link

APHIS is asking for voluntary HPAI testing before moving cattle out of state - April 16

APHIS is now asking cattle producers to have their animals tested before moving between states.

The move comes as High Path Avian Flu has recently made a shift to dairy cattle. The effort is voluntary though, because the USDA says it would not be feasible to test every U.S. dairy herd. That is because the U.S. is home to more than 26,000 dairy herds. APHIS hopes voluntary testing will shed more light on the virus’ impact and help stop the spread from state to state.

State By State Cases/Restrictions - April 12

Maryland imposes cattle restrictions - April 10

“Maryland is home to a robust dairy and cattle genetics industry. We are implementing this order to protect our farmers and the agricultural industry at large,” explained Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. He emphasized the importance of stringent biosecurity measures to isolate sick cattle and quarantine new arrivals for at least two weeks.

HPAI detected in North Carolina dairy herd - April 10

The National Veterinary Services Laboratory has detected Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a dairy herd in North Carolina. HPAI has previously been detected in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, New Mexico, and Ohio. Movement of cattle from affected herds in these states to North Carolina has been suspended. 

“This is an evolving situation, and we are waiting for more diagnostics from NVSL and will work collaboratively with our federal partners and dairy farmers in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.   “We have spent years developing methods to handle HPAI in poultry, but this is new and we are working with our state and federal partners to develop protocols to handle this situation. It is important to note the FDA has no concern about the safety or availability of pasteurized milk products nationwide.”

More states begin to restrict cattle imports from those with influenza cases - April 9

In an effort to prevent domestic cattle from being exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI, more specifically avian influenza Type A H5N1), 17 states have restricted cattle importations from states where the virus is known to have infected dairy cows: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will not be issuing federal quarantine orders at this time, nor is the agency recommending any state quarantines or official hold orders on cattle, the agency announced April 2.

“However, we strongly recommend minimizing movement of cattle as much as possible, with special attention to evaluating risk and factoring that risk into movement decisions. Do not move sick or exposed animals.”

If cattle must be moved, then APHIS strongly encourages “extreme diligence” by producers, veterinarians, and animal health officials to ensure only healthy cattle are moving and to ensure the validity of interstate health certificates.

WOAH, WHO, and CDC announcements

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly the OIE) said in an April 5 announcement that the ongoing spread of HPAI in different regions of the world, alongside the recent detections of cases in cattle, is raising concerns within the international community that such infections in cattle could indicate an increased risk of H5N1 viruses becoming better adapted to mammals, and potentially spilling over to humans and other livestock. 

“Initial investigations so far have revealed no specific adaptation to either humans or mammals,” the announcement states. “Regardless, several studies are being carried out to further explore the virulence and transmissibility of these viruses, including among cattle, and to assess the risk of transmission to animals and humans, which is currently considered very low.”

Yet, WOAH stopped short of endorsing restrictions on the movement of healthy cattle and their products, saying this is not recommended unless justified by an import risk analysis conducted according to WOAH guidelines.

(American Veterinary Medical Association - Segment)

American Association of Bovine Practitioners decides to reference cattle disease as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV) - April 8

On Sunday evening, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), released a letter to its media partners to update them on how the organization will reference the emerging cattle disease, currently confirmed in dairy herds in six states, moving forward. 

"Because this infection in cattle is not the same as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), after thoughtful consideration and discussion with many experts, the AABP will now refer to this as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV), which more accurately depicts it," wrote Geni Wren, director of marketing and communications for the organization, in an email accompanying the letter.

The letter was developed and signed by AABP executive director, Fred Gingrich, DVM, and president Michael Capel, DVM.

Gingrich and Capel are asking other organizations, state animal health officials, diagnostic labs, and state and federal agencies to use Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV) "so we can be consistent with our messaging and better distinguish the disease syndrome in cattle from the pathogenesis in birds. We believe it is important for the public to understand the difference to maintain confidence in the safety and accessibility of beef and dairy products for consumers," they wrote.

Pennsylvania to require HPAI testing for dairy cows - April 8

The state has not yet recorded a positive test, but wild bird migrations could lead to future problems. Quarantine order was officially released requiring cattle imported from a state where HPAI was detected to be tested within five days of movement. Testing must be from a representative sample of 30 animals in a shipment, and the animals must have been together for 30 days.

“There is no cause for panic,” said Lisa Graybeal, deputy secretary of agriculture, during a meeting put on Friday by PennAg Industries.

(Segment of full)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory - April 5

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians, state health departments, and the public of a recently confirmed human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in the United States following exposure to presumably infected dairy cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently reported detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in U.S. dairy cattle in multiple states. This Health Advisory also includes a summary of interim CDC recommendations for preventing, monitoring, and conducting public health investigations of potential human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) virus.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture Restricts Import of Cattle From Areas With HPAI- April 5, 2024

Due to the recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections in livestock on the mainland, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has placed a restriction on the transport of cattle from premises where HPAI has infected cattle. Currently, HPAI has been detected in dairy cattle in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, Ohio and Michigan; however, the restriction will be placed on any future areas where HPAI-infected cattle are found. No infected cattle have been detected in Hawai‘i.

“The Animal Disease Control Branch has been closely monitoring this situation and is establishing these restrictions to help protect Hawai‘i’s livestock,” said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. “To date, HPAI has not been detected in birds, poultry, livestock or other animal species in Hawai‘i.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently considers the effect on human health as low risk even in areas on the mainland where HPAI infections in animals have occurred.

The restrictions established by HDOA’s Animal Disease Control Branch are effective, today, April 5, 2024. HDOA already requires certificates of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian for imported cattle, but is adding the requirement that health certificates must include a statement by the veterinarian that “All animals identified on this Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) have been inspected by me and do not originate from premises with a confirmed detection of HPAI in cattle or premises that is currently under investigation with a suspect herd.”

Additionally, eligible cattle from unaffected premises in states where HPAI has been detected in cattle, must be inspected within 72 hours of shipment and found to be free of signs of HPAI infection. The additional statement should appear on the CVI for these animals: “I have examined the animals identified on this certificate within 72 hours of shipment and found them to be free of signs of HPAI infection."

Bird flu may be spreading in cows via milking and herd transport - April 4, 2024

The bird flu virus spreading through dairy cattle in the United States may be expanding its reach via milking equipment, the people doing the milking, or both, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) representatives reported today at an international, virtual meeting held to update the situation.

The avian virus may not be spreading directly from cows breathing on cows, as some researchers have speculated, according to USDA scientists who took part in the meeting, organized jointly by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural Organization. “We haven't seen any true indication that the cows are actively shedding virus and exposing it directly to other animals,” said USDA’s Mark Lyons, who directs ruminant health for the agency and presented some of its data. The finding might also point to ways to protect humans. So far one worker at a dairy farm with infected cattle was found to have the virus, but no other human cases have been confirmed.

USDA researchers tested milk, nasal swabs, and blood from cows at affected dairies and only found clear signals of the virus in the milk. “Right now, we don't have evidence that the virus is actively replicating within the body of the cow other than the udder,” Suelee Robbe Austerman of USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory told the gathering.

The influenza virus causing the outbreak, an H5N1 subtype that is known as clade 2.3.4.4b, has devastated wild birds and poultry around the world for more than 2 years, and researchers at first thought migratory birds were responsible for spreading it to all of the affected dairy farms. But USDA scientists now think the movement of cattle, which are frequently transported from the southern parts of the country to the Midwest and north in the spring, may also have played an important role. And they floated the possibility, without naming specific herds or locations, that all affected cows may trace back to a single farm.

Since first revealing the infection of dairy cows with this bird flu virus on 25 March, USDA has confirmed it has spread to cattle in six states. And the agency has used the virus' genetics to track its movements. The virus found on U.S. farms has a specific genetic signature, which led USDA to name it 3.13. “It's not a common [strain], but it's very much a descendant of the viruses that have been dominating the flyways in the Pacific and the central flyways in the United States,” Robbe Austerman said.

The virus in cows could spread to poultry, which has that industry on edge. USDA tightly regulates avian influenza virus strains that are deadly to poultry, requiring culling of entire flocks if one bird tests positive for this H5N1 or one of its relatives; to date, commercial and backyard poultry farms have had to cull 85 million birds because of this virus. But USDA is not calling for any such drastic measures with cow herds.

In response to questions from Science, Ashley Peterson, who handles regulatory affairs for the National Chicken Council, said “out of an abundance of caution, we believe it is prudent to restrict the movement of cows from positive herds.” Although some researchers agree USDA should stop the transport of dairy cows, the agency has so far declined to take that disruptive action. “We heavily rely on the producers who have been isolating the animals within the dairy herds,” Lyons said. USDA also says it has no evidence of beef cattle becoming infected.

USDA and the Food and Drug Administration have stressed that pasteurization kills viruses, so there is “no concern” about the safety of commercial milk. They do recommend people not consume raw milk or products made from it.

Sources tell Science some dairy farms that were later shown to be infected first noticed dead cats as early as mid-February. The animals, which often drink spilled milk on farms, “were the canary in the mine,” one said. The cows’ milk was also unusually thick. Those signs, coupled with the discovery of dead birds on the farms, led to the testing of cow milk for the bird flu virus and the 25 March USDA announcement.

Oddly, the dead birds on infected farms were not waterfowl, the migratory birds that typically spread the avian flu viruses to poultry, but “peridomestic” species such as grackles, blackbirds, and pigeons. One farm had the virus detected in poultry before it was found in its cows, and although Robbe Austerman said she hesitated to call it the “ancestral strain,” she noted that “all of the detection so far in cattle are clustered around that.”

Further studies should clarify how the virus wound up in cows, which sometimes become infected with flu viruses but have never before been shown to have one that causes high mortality in birds. One possibility is that birds infected cows by shedding their droppings in the cows’ feed or water. But bird flu viruses in the past have also spread for many kilometers in the wind, moving from one poultry farm to another. So the current H5N1 strain could have moved from waterfowl to poultry to cattle—or directly from poultry to cattle and then even to the peridomestic birds. “This could be a multifactorial presentation that we're seeing,” Lyons said. “Lots of questions still to be answered.”

(science.org via University of Nebraska Medical Center website)

States with HPAI-infected dairy cows grows to six (Ohio)/Cats found with HPAI - April 4, 2024

A herd of dairy cattle in Ohio has been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), increasing the number of states with dairy operations affected by the virus to six.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) on April 3 announced it had received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) of HPAI infection in a dairy cattle herd in Wood County, Ohio.

The USDA previously confirmed the H5N1 strain of HPAI in dairy cattle on seven Texas farms, two in Kansas, and one each in New Mexico, Michigan, and Idaho.

The affected Ohio dairy operation reportedly received cows on March 8 from a Texas dairy that later reported a confirmed detection of HPAI. Ohio’s animal health officials were notified of this when the livestock began showing clinical signs consistent with those in sick, lactating dairy cows in other states.

Another new development in the ongoing HPAI outbreak is that three sick cats on one of the affected Texas farms have tested positive for the virus. Wild birds are the primary vector of the virus, which has been shown capable of infecting several species of mammals, including cats.

(Segments - American Veterinary Medical Association)

Dairy Biosecurity Training Videos/Resources - April 4, 2024

The following videos and materials provide essential personnel with some of the information they need to be part of the herd health protection team.

https://securemilksupply.org/training-materials/biosecurity/

Cattle Movement/Employee Guidelines from APHIS - April 3, 2024

Movement of cattle
• At this time, USDA will not be issuing Federal quarantine orders, nor is APHIS recommending any State regulatory quarantines or official hold orders on cattle.
• HOWEVER, we strongly recommend minimizing movement of cattle as much as possible, with special attention to evaluating risk and factoring that risk into movement decisions.
• Do not move sick or exposed animals.
• If cattle must be moved, we strongly encourage extreme diligence by producers, veterinarians, and animal health officials to ensure only healthy cattle are moving and to ensure the validity of interstate health certificates. APHIS stands ready to assist SAHOs with developing language for interstate certificates of veterinary inspection, as needed.
• If cattle must be moved, APHIS recommends premovement testing of milk samples from lactating cows and nasal swabs for non-lactating cattle, by PCR for Influenza A and H5 virus, at a NAHLN laboratory for individual animals (statistical sample of lots). Premovement testing will not be funded by APHIS. It should be noted that how the virus is infecting dairy cattle, the duration, and route of HPAI (H5N1) virus shedding is yet unknown; a negative result does not guarantee disease freedom. Additional recommendations for testing can be found here.
• APHIS scientists are working to establish testing protocols, rapidly assessing currently available tests and test performance including sample type to better understand the characteristics; based on this analysis, we may recommend surveillance other than testing sick cows in the future.

Worker Safety (contributed by CDC)
CDC’s current recommendations are as follows:
• Persons working with or around cattle, including those working with or disposing of milk waste, that are suspected or confirmed with HPAI (H5N1) virus infection should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when in direct or close contact (within about 6 feet) with sick or dead animals, animal feces, litter, milk, or materials known to be or potentially contaminated with HPAI (H5N1) viruses.
• Recommended PPE includes properly fitted unvented or indirectly vented safety goggles or a face shield (if there is risk of liquid splash onto the respirator), disposable gloves, boots or boot covers, a NIOSH Approved® particulate respirator (e.g., N95® filtering facepiece respirator)*, disposable fluid-resistant coveralls, and disposable head cover or hair cover. Perform thorough hand washing before putting on and taking off PPE.
o For younger children, it is important to remember that respirators are designed primarily to be used by adults in workplaces. The risks and benefits of children using them are not yet fully known. Additionally, for a respirator to be most effective, it must form a seal to the face to keep particles from leaking around the edges. Some respirators may be too big for younger children’s faces.
• Persons working with or around cattle, even if not in close contact, should avoid eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, and other such activities in potentially contaminated areas; avoid rubbing or touching the eyes, as it can result in conjunctivitis (pink eye); and perform thorough handwashing regularly, especially before eating, smoking, touching your face, and leaving work (including breaks), and before and after wearing PPE or going to the bathroom.
• People exposed to HPAI (H5N1) virus-infected cattle (including people wearing recommended PPE) should be monitored for signs and symptoms of acute respiratory illness beginning after their first  exposure and for 10 days after their last exposure. Signs and symptoms in people can include:
o Mild illness (e.g., cough, sore throat, eye redness or eye discharge such as conjunctivitis, fever or feeling feverish, rhinorrhea, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, headache) o Moderate to severe illness: (e.g., shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, altered mental status, seizures)
o Complications: pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure (respiratory and kidney failure), sepsis, meningoencephalitis
• If any person exposed to HPAI (H5N1) virus infected cattle develops acute respiratory illness symptoms (see above) during the monitoring period, the State health department (including the State Public Health Veterinarian or equivalent) should be notified, the sick person should be isolated, and respiratory tract specimens should be collected for influenza A and A (H5) testing at a state health department laboratory. Empiric antiviral treatment with oseltamivir (twice daily x 5 days) should be prescribed and administered as soon as possible to any person with suspected H5N1 virus infection.
• When relevant, animal health and public health officials should use a One Health collaborative approach to conduct epidemiological investigations into animal and human infections of HPAI (H5N1)

(APHIS - 2 sections taken from larger recommendation document)

U.S. Dairy Export Council - April 3, 2024

Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued two important updates on the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) virus in dairy cattle as well as one person. Please see below.

From an export perspective, there are no known export disruptions or barriers to U.S. dairy trade and exports at this time. Again, our industry is working with federal partners including USDA to ensure trading partners rely on the OIE-acknowledged, science-based food safety steps taken in U.S. dairy processing to prevent any unnecessary and unfair barriers to trade.

Below are specific updates on the situation as of Tuesday:

1. CDC confirms HPAI H5N1 virus infection reported in a person in the U.S. – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a person in the U.S. has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI H5N1 virus, as reported by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. According to the CDC, the person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu.

CDC and Texas DSHS stated Tuesday that avian influenza (H5N1) viruses have only rarely been transmitted from person to person. As such, the risk to the general public remains low at this time. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection. USDA, FDA, CDC and state public and animal health agencies have issued guidance to dairy farmers underscoring the need for advanced biosecurity protocols to protect human and animal health and secure our nation’s food supply.

1. Pasteurized milk and dairy remain safe – consumers should avoid raw milk – The USDA, CDC, FDA, and state of Texas affirmed again Tuesday that pasteurized milk and dairy products remain safe to consume. U.S. dairy products are pasteurized before entering the marketplace. Pasteurization is proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza inclusive of avian influenza, in milk. Routine testing and well-established protocols for U.S. dairy also continue to ensure that only safe milk enters the food supply. The federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) prohibits milk from sick cows from entering the food supply chain. Sick or affected dairy cows are segregated on farms, as is normal practice with any animal health concern, and their milk does not enter the food supply. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption.

Additionally, USDA and FDA remind consumers that raw milk should not be consumed regardless of its availability. Raw milk is a key vehicle in the transmission of human pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella, among others. As this situation continues to evolve, USDA and FDA strongly recommend that all raw milk and raw milk components be heat treated to a temperature and duration that kills harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including viruses inclusive of HPAI, regardless of the product’s intended use for human or animal consumption. FDA also recommends out of an abundance of caution that milk from cows in an affected herd not be used to produce raw milk cheeses.

1. USDA confirms HPAI in dairy herd in New Mexico, as well as 5 additional dairy herds in Texas – USDA also confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy herd in New Mexico, as well as 5 additional dairy herds in Texas. APHIS shared on March 29 that its National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, was working to confirm presumptive positive test results from New Mexico, Texas and Idaho herds; this announcement is a follow up to that information.

Federal and state agencies continue to conduct additional testing in swabs from sick animals and in unpasteurized clinical milk samples from sick animals, as well as viral genome sequencing, to assess whether HPAI or another unrelated disease may be underlying any symptoms. The NVSL has also confirmed that the strain of the virus found in subsequent states is very similar to the strain originally confirmed in cattle in Texas and Kansas that appears to have been introduced by wild birds (H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b).

• Advanced biosecurity remains paramount – robust biosecurity protocols are critical to preventing and managing HPAI on dairy farms. HPAI is primarily spread by birds to animals, including mammals, and will spread on farms by people carrying matter from infected birds—such as dust, dander, and bird droppings—on their clothing, gloves, soles of their shoes, vehicle tires, animal trailers, and other equipment, in addition to contaminated water. As we learn more about vectors of transmission, guidance and resources may be expanded.
• Reporting is key – If farmers suspect their cows are sick, veterinarians should report illnesses to state vet authorities as soon as possible. USDA has told the dairy community and practitioners that cattle are expected to fully recover in a few weeks and there is no need to cull dairy cows as HPAI poses a low risk to human health. In the meantime, USDA strongly recommends limited or cautious movement of cattle, testing before moving cattle, and quarantining cattle upon arrival at their destination. USDA will continue to share information as they learn more.
• CDC recommends prevention measures for farm workers – CDC outlines recommendations for preventing exposures HPAI H5N1.

American Veterinary Medical Association Update - April 2, 2024

More dairy cattle in Idaho, New Mexico, and Texas have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced April 1 and 2 that these mark the first known cases of HPAI in cattle in Idaho and New Mexico, and add to the two detections in Texas and two in Kansas that were announced on March 25.

To date, the USDA has confirmed the detection of HPAI in seven dairy herds in Texas, two in Kansas, and one each in Idaho, Michigan, and New Mexico. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) is currently performing confirmatory tests on presumptive positive results from Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Texas. While these samples are from cattle with at least some clinical signs in common with other cattle diagnosed with HPAI, the USDA says the presence of HPAI should not be considered confirmed until the NVSL analysis is complete.

The NVSL has also confirmed that the H5N1 strain of the virus found in subsequent states is very similar to the strain originally confirmed in cattle in Texas and Kansas that appears to have been introduced by wild birds. 

The Michigan dairy herd had recently received cows from Texas, according to the USDA.

Tennessee order of the state veterinarian - April 2, 2024

I, Dr. Samantha Beaty, State Veterinarian and Assistant Commissioner for Animal Health, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Tennessee, do hereby order the following import provisions, effectively immediately:

I. No Dairy Cattle exhibiting clinical signs and testing positive for HPAI shall be allowed to move into Tennessee.

2. All adult Dairy Cattle entering Tennessee from states affected by HPAI in Dairy Cattle shall require permitting by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and may be required to complete pre-movement testing as determined by the State Veterinarian.

3. Failure to abide by these import requirements shall result in a whole premises quarantine on imported animals for 21 days and negative PCR testing for HPAI before release from quarantine.

This Order shall expire on May 3, 2024, unless extended or rescinded. To request permitting or for more information, call (615) 837-5120.

(TN.gov)

Cal-Maine Foods halts egg production at Texas facility after detecting bird flue - April 2, 2024

Egg producer Cal-Maine Foods said on Tuesday it had temporarily halted production at its Texas facility after detecting avian influenza, which has led to the culling of about 1.6 million laying hens.

The move comes amid rising concern over the rapid spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in birds and mammals and just a day after Texas reported the second case of the strain in a human in the United States.

The company said it had culled about 3.6% of its total flock as of last month, including 337,000 pullets — or young hens, after its facility in Parmer Country, Texas, tested positive.

Cal-Maine said it was working with government officials and industry groups to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.

Since 2022, 82 million U.S. chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled due to a deadly strain of the virus, which has spread to many corners of the world and has even been found in the frozen continent of Antarctica.

Cal-Maine said that no eggs have been recalled as there is no risk related to bird flu associated with eggs. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the influenza cannot be transmitted through properly cooked eggs.

On Monday, Texas and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a case of bird flu in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus, as the highly pathogenic influenza spreads to new mammals, including dairy cattle.

The USDA said in February the country was about 18 months away from identifying a vaccine for the current strain of bird flu.

The deadly strain has killed wildlife, including a few dolphins, about 50,000 seals and sea lions and about half a million birds in South America since it arrived in the region in 2022.  (Reuters)

Nebraska Issues Restrictions, Provides Updates - April 1, 2024

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) continues to monitor the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in dairy cattle. HPAI has been detected in lactating dairy cattle in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Michigan, and Idaho. At this time, there have been no reported detections of HPAI in Nebraska dairy cattle or other livestock.

In an effort to protect the dairy herd in Nebraska, NDA is issuing an importation order effective immediately. The importation order will require all breeding female dairy cattle entering the state of Nebraska to obtain a permit issued by NDA prior to entry. To obtain a permit, producers will need to contact the NDA at 402-471-2351. The new importation order will be in place for 30 days (until April 30, 2024) and will be re-evaluated at that time. More information is available on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/imports.

“Animal health and disease control are essential to the livestock industry and health of Nebraska’s economy,” said NDA Director Sherry Vinton. “NDA is closely monitoring this HPAI illness in livestock. We will do what’s right to advocate for Nebraska producers, to protect the health of Nebraska livestock, and to minimize the impact HPAI will have on dairy producers in the state.”

“The health and safety of livestock in Nebraska is top priority,” said State Veterinarian Roger Dudley, DMV. “At this time, it appears the HPAI illness found in dairy operations in some states only affects lactating dairy cows and is not being seen in other segments of the cattle industry.

Now, more than ever, is the time to enhance biosecurity measures on farms and ranches to help protect livestock from illness.” NDA recommends adhering to strict biosecurity practices in operations and quarantining new animals into herds for 30 days, if possible. If dairy producers notice symptoms - acute sudden drop in milk production, changes in milk color/consistency, decreased feed intake, and other clinical signs, they should contact their herd veterinarian and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture immediately at 402-471-2351. The herd veterinarian will assess these animals and consult with NDA for additional steps.

In the dairy industry, there are many safeguards in place to ensure that milk and dairy products are safe to consume, so HPAI in dairy cattle does not possess a known risk to the public’s health. Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to consume due to routine testing and established protocols. Out of an abundance of caution, milk from ill cows is never allowed to enter the food supply.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption. Milk from impacted animals is diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk, and pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.

NDA is collaborating with producers, veterinarians, officials in other State Departments of Agriculture, the USDA, and industry partners like the Nebraska Dairy Association, and the Nebraska Cattlemen, to closely monitor the situation and put plans in place to protect Nebraska producers and their livestock. “There are a lot of discussions on the national level about this outbreak, and Nebraska is a part of those discussions,” said Dr. Dudley. “Understanding the details surrounding the transfer of the HPAI virus to livestock is an important part of the epidemiological investigation. While troubling, this outbreak does not currently threaten the lives of dairy cattle, and the pasteurization process continues to keep the milk supply safe. In Nebraska, we have communicated with dairy producers and veterinarians with the information we know, and we will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.”
The HPAI virus detections in affected herds appears to have been introduced through exposure to infected wild birds. Further efforts to continue epidemiological investigations are underway to ensure a complete picture of the situation can be evaluated. The USDA has confirmed that HPAI does not seem to be passed cow-to-cow, but rather by wild birds carrying the disease and transmitting it and potential mechanical transmission of the virus.

While this new importation order prohibits breeding female dairy cattle from entering the state without a permit, individuals from Nebraska interested in transporting animals and animal
products to other states and countries should contact the destination state/country to learn about their import requirements before transporting animals.

(Nebraska Department of Agriculture)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S. - April 1, 2024

A person in the United States has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus (“H5N1 bird flu”), as reported by Texas and confirmed by CDC. This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection. CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses.

CDC is working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds/animals and test those people who develop symptoms. CDC also has recommendations for clinicians on monitoring, testing, and antiviral treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza A virus infections.

This is the second person reported to have tested positive for influenza A(H5N1) viruses in the United States. A previous human case occurred in 2022 in Colorado. Human infections with avian influenza A viruses, including A(H5N1) viruses, are uncommon but have occurred sporadically worldwide. CDC has been monitoring for illness among people exposed to H5 virus-infected birds since outbreaks were first detected in U.S. wild birds and poultry in late 2021. Human illnesses with H5N1 bird flu have ranged from mild (e.g., eye infection, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe illness (e.g., pneumonia) that have resulted in death in other countries.

H5 bird flu is widespread among wild birds in the U.S. and globally. These viruses also have caused outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, and sporadic infections in mammals. HPAI in dairy cows was first reported in Texas and Kansas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on March 25, 2024. Unpasteurized milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as a throat swab from a cow in another dairy in Texas, tested positive for HPAI A(H5) viruses of the genetic clade 2.3.4.4b, which is the same clade that is widespread among birds globally. On March 29, 2024On March 29, 2024, USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed HPAI in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from Texas. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing regular updates on detections in dairy herds, as well as information on epidemiological findings and biosecurity guidance for farmers and veterinarians. Preliminary analysis of A(H5N1) viruses has not found changes that would make these viruses resistant to current FDA-approved flu antiviral medications, so these are believed to be effective against these viruses. Candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs) developed against related clade 2.3.4.4b viruses are available for vaccine manufacturing if necessary and preliminary analysis indicates that they may provide reasonable protection against H5N1 influenza viruses. Seasonal flu vaccines do not provide protection against these viruses. Analysis of virus samples is ongoing.

CDC is working closely with state and federal agencies, including USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and local health authorities to further investigate and closely monitor this situation.

Prevention Measures

According to CDC’s interim recommendations, people should avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cattle), as well as with animal carcasses, raw milk, feces (poop), litter, or materials contaminated by birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection. People should not prepare or eat uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or products made from raw milk such as cheeses, from animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection (avian influenza or bird flu). Specific recommendations for farmers; poultry, backyard flock, and livestock owners; and worker protection are also available.

People exposed to birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection should be monitored for any signs and symptoms of illness for 10 days after the last known exposure, including people wearing recommended personal protective equipment (PPE). Additional information on protective actions around birds, including what to do if you find a dead bird, is available on CDC’s website.

According to FDA and USDA, there are not concerns with the safety of the commercial milk supply at this time because products are pasteurized before entering the market. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption. FDA’s longstanding position is that unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to consumers, and FDA is reminding consumers of the risks associated with raw milk consumption in light of the HPAI detections.

CDC continues to work with USDA, FDA, and state health departments to monitor people exposed to animals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. Because influenza viruses constantly change, continued surveillance and preparedness efforts are critical, and CDC is taking measures in case the public health risk assessment changes. This is a developing situation, and CDC will share additional updates as new relevant information becomes available.

(Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

USDA, FDA, and CDC Share Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle - March 29, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are continuing to investigate an illness among dairy cows that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

On Monday, March 25, the agencies confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy herds in Texas and two dairy herds in Kansas that had cattle exhibiting these symptoms.   

USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has now also confirmed the presence of HPAI in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from Texas. Presumptive positive test results have also been received for additional herds in New Mexico, Idaho, and Texas; USDA will share updates if those tests are confirmed positive by NVSL. Federal and state agencies continue to conduct additional testing in swabs from sick animals and in unpasteurized clinical milk samples from sick animals, as well as viral genome sequencing, to assess whether HPAI or another unrelated illness may be underlying any symptoms

The NVSL has also confirmed that the strain of the virus found in Michigan is very similar to the strain confirmed in Texas and Kansas that appears to have been introduced by wild birds (H5N1, Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b).  Initial testing has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, this indicates that the current risk to the public remains low.

Spread of symptoms among the Michigan herd also indicates that HPAI transmission between cattle cannot be ruled out; USDA and partners continue to monitor this closely and have advised veterinarians and producers to practice good biosecurity, test animals before necessary movements, minimize animal movements, and isolate sick cattle from the herd. Among the dairies whose herds are exhibiting symptoms, the affected animals have recovered after isolation with little to no associated mortality reported. 

There continues to be no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply because products are pasteurized before entering the market, or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption. FDA’s longstanding position is that unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to consumers, and FDA is reminding consumers of the risks associated with raw milk consumption in light of the HPAI detections.

Because of the limited information available about the transmission of HPAI in raw milk, the FDA recommends that industry does not manufacture or sell raw milk or raw/unpasteurized milk cheese products made with milk from cows showing symptoms of illness, including those infected with avian influenza or exposed to those infected with avian influenza.  At this time, the FDA is not aware that any milk or food product from symptomatic cows is entering interstate commerce.  Furthermore, if milk from cows showing symptoms of illness, including those infected with avian influenza or exposed to those infected with avian influenza is intended to be used to feed calves, FDA strongly encourages that it be heat treated to kill harmful bacteria or viruses, such as influenza, before calf feeding. Food safety information from FDA, including information about the sale and consumption of raw milk, can be found here. 

Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products. Further, the U.S. typically has a more than sufficient milk supply in the spring months due to seasonally higher production.

Federal agencies are also working with state and industry partners to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so that we can monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact and risk to farmers, farmworkers, consumers and other animals. Producers are urged to work with their veterinarian to report cattle illnesses quickly and practice enhanced biosecurity measures. More information on biosecurity measures can be found here. 

FDA: Questions and Answers Regarding Milk Safety During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influence (HPAI) Outbreaks - March 29, 2024

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is closely working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state partners to investigate an illness among older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and Michigan that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

As of Friday, March 29, the agencies confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy herds in Texas, two dairy herds in Kansas and one dairy her in Michigan that had recently received cows from Texas. HPAI was detected in unpasteurized samples of milk and swabs taken for diagnosis of sick cattle on the dairy farms in Texas, Kansas and Michigan. Testing is also underway for two herds in New Mexico and two additional herds in Texas. These samples were submitted as part of an investigation into illness among primarily older dairy cows that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms. However, these detections are also appearing in some younger lactating cows. Testing is underway for additional dairy herds in New Mexico, Texas, and Idaho which have cows exhibiting similar signs of illness.   

 At this time, there continues to be no concern about the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply because products are pasteurized before entering the market, or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health.

Only milk from heathy animals is authorized for distribution into interstate commerce for human consumption. Additionally, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce. Milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply.  Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products. The FDA will continue to work with our partners and provide updates as necessary.

More information about the detections, as well as information about biosecurity measures producers can take to protect their animals from HPAI is available at USDA, FDA and CDC Share Update on HPAI Detections in Dairy Cattle | USDA-APHIS. 

Idaho Farm Bureau Statement - March 29, 2024

The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation expresses its appreciation to the Idaho Department of Agriculture, their scientists, lab technicians, veterinarians, and field staff for their work on the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI). Officials have indicated that current test findings show no food safety issues and that the commercial milk and beef supply remains safe.

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Release - March 28, 2024

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Idaho Cattle

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a Cassia County dairy cattle operation.

These are the first cases of HPAI in a dairy operation in Idaho. The affected facility recently imported cattle from another state that had previously identified cases of HPAI in cattle.

It is suggested the virus may be transmitted from cow-to-cow, in addition to previous reports indicating cattle were acquiring the virus from infected birds.

The primary concern with this diagnosis is on-dairy production losses, as the disease has been associated with decreased milk production.

Symptoms of HPAI in cattle include: 

• • Drop in milk production 
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Changes in manure consistency 
  • Thickened or colostrum-like milk 
  • Low-grade fever 

ISDA Response 

The ISDA has placed a quarantine on the positive facility, meaning no livestock are permitted to enter or exit the infected premises. This is an open case, ISDA is continuing to investigate via additional sampling.

The infected cattle are being quarantined from the rest of the herd on the facility. Pasteurized milk from affected cows does not present a human health concern, and the cows on the dairy will continue to produce milk and all animals will be cared for normally.  

This is an evolving situation, and additional updates will be provided by ISDA as they become available. 

What Livestock Producers Can Do

• • Enhance biosecurity measures (see below information below). 

• • Closely monitor your herd for the following symptoms: 

• • • Fever 
    • Lethargy 
    • Loss of appetite 
    • Constipation 
    • Thickened or colostrum-like milk 
    • Decreased milk production 

If your cattle appear to be infected: 

1. Contact your local veterinarian immediately.
2. After talking with your veterinarian, fill out the HPAI Livestock Screen.
3. Once the screen is submitted, an ISDA veterinarian will review the screen to determine if ISDA assistance is needed. Direct assistance from ISDA will be dependent on the severity and size of the herd as well as the availability of ISDA veterinarians.