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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Cows
On behalf of the American Dairy Association Mideast and the Ohio Dairy Producers Association, please find linked here a joint U.S. dairy industry statement from Dairy Management Inc, National Milk Producers Federation, International Dairy Foods Association and US Dairy Export Council in response to the official public statement from USDA confirming highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy cattle herds in Texas and two herds in Kansas.
Importantly, USDA confirmed that there is no threat to human health and milk and dairy products remain safe to consume. Pasteurization (high heat treatment) kills harmful microbes and pathogens in milk, including the influenza virus.
Also, routine testing and well-established protocols for U.S. dairy will continue to ensure that only safe milk enters the food supply. In keeping with the federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), milk from sick cows must be collected separately and is not allowed to enter the food supply chain. This means affected dairy cows are segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern, and their milk does not enter the food supply. Consumers in the United States and around the world can remain confident in the safety and quality of U.S. dairy.
Enhanced Biosecurity Protocols Underway on U.S. Dairy Farms
As information related to an illness affecting dairy cows in several states began to circulate over the past two weeks, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) worked with state veterinary authorities as well as federal partners including the FDA to swiftly identify and respond to detections and mitigate the virus’ impact on U.S. dairy production.
Dairy farmers also have begun implementing enhanced biosecurity protocols on their farms, limiting the amount of traffic into and out of their properties and restricting visits to employees and essential personnel. Avian influenza is an animal health issue, not a human health concern. Importantly, mammals including cows do not spread avian influenza—it requires birds as the vector of transmission and it’s extremely rare for the virus to affect humans because most people will never have direct and prolonged contact with an infected bird, especially on a dairy farm. As a precaution, dairy farmers are taking important measures to protect their workers.
The National Dairy FARM Program (NDFP) offers several valuable biosecurity resources providing dairy farmers with tools to keep their cattle and dairy businesses safe, including: Biosecurity practices guidance is available here.
About the Illness in Cows
Dairy producers with affected cows are reporting a rapid onset illness in herds, specifically among older, lactating cows. Clinical signs include:
- Decreased herd level milk production
- Acute sudden drop in production
- Decrease in feed consumption
- Abnormal feces and some fever
- Older cows may be more likely to be severely impacted than younger cows
According to dairy farmers and veterinarians reporting on affected herds, most affected cows recover within two to three weeks.
Information for Affected Producers
Dairy farmers who observe clinical signs in their herd consistent with this outbreak, such as a significant loss of animal appetite and rumination or an acute drop in milk production, should immediately contact their veterinarian. Veterinarians who observe these clinical signs and have ruled out other diagnoses on a client’s farm should contact the state veterinarian and plan to submit a complete set of samples to be tested at a diagnostic laboratory. Animals may also be reported to APHIS’ toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.
Your national and local dairy associations will continue to work across the industry with key stakeholders and monitor this situation. Please contact Jenny Crabtree at 614-890-1800 with any questions. |
