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![]() Jun. 24, 2024 By USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as it appeared in Agri-Pulse The more we learn about H5N1, the more we understand that good biosecurity is a critically important path to containing the virus. Containing and eliminating the virus in our dairy cattle is essential - to protect the health of our herds and flocks, our farmers, our farmworkers, our families, and the rural economy they make possible. This past winter a group of migrating wild birds infected with H5N1 transferred the virus to dairy cattle somewhere in the Texas panhandle region - this was the first reported case in dairy cattle. Cows that were shipped from the panhandle spread the disease to other parts of the country, and now, H5N1 - the same strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza found in wild birds and poultry flocks - has been found in 115 dairy herds in 12 states. H5N1 is highly pathogenic in birds, meaning birds that get the virus get very sick very quickly and almost always die as a result. This virus has been at the top of the list for risk of global pandemics for years as it has circulated among birds and other species. USDA has been working with poultry and egg producers for a decade to manage the virus and it is a disease that our scientists understand well. For poultry farmers, depopulating affected flocks, disinfecting their poultry houses, barns, and equipment, and improving their biosecurity practices have helped control the spread of the disease while keeping people safe. Sadly, migrating birds bring H5N1 with them, so there will likely always be a threat of the disease for our poultry farmers. H5N1 behaves very differently in cattle. Dairy cows that get H5N1 often have a sudden drop in milk production go off feed and generally do not feel well. But unlike birds, sick cows do not typically die from the virus and typically recover after a few weeks and return to full milk production. Thus, USDA is making different recommendations to dairy farmers to help them test for and manage the disease in dairy cattle. These recommendations were designed with input from experts, including dairy producers, veterinarians, state officials and USDA researchers. Data show that the movement of cows shipped from the Texas panhandle region was initially responsible for the spread of H5N1 to different states. So, the USDA put in place a federal order - a type of temporary requirement - that directs all dairy farmers to test their lactating cows before moving them across state lines. The federal order has led to more producers testing their cows, most specifically for pre-movement to raise assurances, which has the added benefit of providing information so producers and veterinarians can take quick action to limit the impact of the disease and to help us better understand its spread. As producers do more testing, we expect to continue to detect additional dairy herds infected with the virus. This is what USDA expected and is an indication that the system is working as designed. To read entire article, Click Here Tweet |
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