UPDATE: Since Bluestem published this post, Iowa Capitol Dispatch's Jared Strong has published Bird flu threat looms for cattle. [end update]
On Monday, a post on the X platform captured my attention:
Details from APHIS on the detection of avian flu in dairy cows in Kansas and Texas - https://t.co/dqPzJTuD7P
— Ben Lilliston (@BenLilliston) March 25, 2024
Just five days before, Bluestem had posted Minnesota Board of Animal Health: Stevens County goat tests positive for avian influenza.
That kid goat in Minnesota had died; the source of the HPAI infection was an earlier outbreak in the location's backyard poultry flock, and was the "first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives)," according to the Board of Animal Health:
A Stevens County goat kid (juvenile goat) residing on a farm with a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) positive poultry flock tested positive for the same virus. This is the first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives). All poultry on the property were already quarantined from the February HPAI detection. Following the confirmation of HPAI in the goat, the Board quarantined all other species on the premises. The Board is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the transmission of the virus in this case. . . .
What is known so far about this development? According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service press release Federal and State Veterinary, Public Health Agencies Share Update on HPAI Detection in Kansas, Texas Dairy Herds:
Wild migratory birds believed to be source of infection; viral testing and epidemiologic efforts continue
Commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization
WASHINGTON, March 25, 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 investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.
As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March 22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.
Federal and state agencies are moving quickly to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing, so that we can better understand the situation, including characterization of the HPAI strain or strains associated with these detections.
At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply 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 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.
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 to farmers, consumers and other animals. For the dairies whose herds are exhibiting symptoms, on average about ten percent of each affected herd appears to be impacted, with little to no associated mortality reported among the animals. 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.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and USDA and federal and state partners will continue to share additional updates as soon as information becomes available. More information on biosecurity measures can be found here.
A mysterious disease circulating in dairy cows located in the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, and Kansas has been baffling the agriculture industry, but no more. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced he received confirmation from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that the mystery disease has been identified as a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). USDA said affected dairy cows do not appear to be transmitting the virus to other cattle within the same herd. . . ,New Mexico had also reported dairy cows with similar symptoms, but those cases have not been confirmed as HPAI at this time. . . .
HPAI historically infects birds but has been documented to infect mammals. Based on the findings from Texas, the virus appears to have been introduced by wild birds. Federal and state agencies are moving quickly to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing, so that they can better understand the situation, including characterization of the HPAI strain or strains associated with these detections.
At this time, information from USDA, FDA, and CDC indicates the risk to the public is considered low and there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply and no concern that this issue poses a risk to consumer health. Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.
People should avoid consuming raw milk or raw milk products. Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals for human consumption. Milk from impacted animals does not enter the food supply.
Additional locations with similar case profiles have been identified and are waiting for test results. Farmers and veterinarians are encouraged to report cattle illnesses quickly so that USDA APHIS can monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact to farmers, consumers and animals.
Veterinarians working with potentially impacted farms should consult with state health officials and their diagnostic laboratories to ensure they follow established diagnostic sampling guidelines.
Animals do not appear to be dying from this disease in impacted herds. In impacted herds, approximately 10% of cattle are affected, with most cases affecting mid to late-lactation mature cows. Impacted herds are experiencing approximately 10 to 20% reduction in milk production for 14 to 21 days. At this time, dry cows, fresh cows, heifers and calves do not appear to be affected. . . .
Read more to learn about symptoms and biosecurity measures.
Meanwhile, Senator Warren Limmer's warnings about bovine berserkers dominated Minnesota's cow news on Monday. Heartland Signal posed on X:
Minnesota State Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) says safe gun storage laws will keep farmers from protecting their families against cows.
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 25, 2024
"You even walk too close to a cow, and it'll take you down and trample you into dust." pic.twitter.com/rHlqtGo5Wd
The Star Tribune had more in Minnesota legislator concerned gun storage law puts farmers at greater risk if a cow charges. Louis Kraus reports:
While discussing his concerns about a legislative proposal for more stringent gun-storage laws, Minnesota State Sen. Warren Limmer offered one that caught some off-guard: He thinks farmers will be in greater danger of being injured by a charging cow if they don't have easy access to a gun. . . .
Reports show that deaths caused by cows in the U.S. are uncommon but not unheard of. In 2019, a 41-year-old Minnesota man was trampled to death in his cow yard near Parkers Prairie. A January 2024 report by the journal Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology estimated that around 20 to 22 deaths per year in the United States are caused by cattle. . . .
Bluestem hopes that Minnesota cattle and milk producers put their energy into biosecurity efforts, rather than fretting over Limmer''s nincompoopery.
Photo: Some Holsteins.
Related posts
- Minnesota Board of Animal Health: Stevens County goat tests positive for avian influenza
- MN Board of Animal Health: HPAI confirmed in commercial Meeker County turkey flock
- MN DNR: Wild fox in Minnesota tests positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza
- In America's turkey industry, SD producers hit hardest by highly pathogenic avian influenza
- Board of Animal Health: Minnesota poultry sales and exhibitions temporarily banned for 31 days
- Board of Animal Health: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed in two Minnesota flocks
- SD Game, Fish & Parks: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detected in South Dakota
- Associated Press: Bird flu detected among commercial flock in southeastern South Dakota
- Minnesota Reformer: Menacing bird flu detected in western Iowa backyard chicken and duck flock
- Shocking photos in state vet's report to Midwest lawmakers reveal bird flu toll to farmers & flocks
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