On Monday 25th March 2024 it was confirmed that milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas had tested positive for avian influenza, in a statement released by US health officials.
It is thought the animals were exposed to the virus through faeces and nasal secretions from migrating wild birds, contaminating feed that was left in the open.
Reports from farmers across several states including Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Idaho have indicated that their cattle, particularly older animals, have been observed falling ill, exhibiting symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, and a decline in milk production lasting approximately a week.
Nasal swabs conducted on the affected cattle have confirmed the presence of bird flu. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of wildlife, agriculture, and public health, prompting heightened vigilance and biosecurity measures in the affected regions.
As the bird flu virus adapts, avian influenza has been reported in 48 different animal species, including goats, foxes, squirrels, cats, dogs, penguins, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, coyotes and grizzly bears. In Argentina, 17,000 baby elephant seals died from bird flu and in Spain there has been an outbreak amongst farmed mink.
Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner said of the discovery that: “We hadn’t seen anything like it before. It was kind of like they had a cold.”
Although avian flu is deadly for birds, it is less lethal to cattle. Only about 10% of affected herds were impacted, resulting in a very low mortality rate with most recovering quite quickly.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reassured the public that even in the rare occurrence of contaminated milk entering the food supply, pasteurisation remains a critical safeguard. This process, mandated for milk sold across states, effectively eliminates viruses and harmful bacteria, including those of concern, such as the avian influenza strain H5N1.
In a statement, the USDA emphasised that there is currently no cause for concern regarding the safety of the commercial milk supply or any perceived risk to consumer health.
In a joint statement, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USDA and the Food and Drug Administration said: “Initial testing has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans.”
Avian influenza is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans from animals. In the case in Texas, a farmer got avian influenza by being in close contact with cows infected with the H5N1 strain, but after isolating and being treated with an antiviral drug has made a full recovery. This is only the second human case of bird flu in the US. The first being in Colorado in 2022 when a poultry worker was infected and suffered fatigue for a few days before recovering.
UK livestock farmers need to remain vigilant
Livetec have always said that the best way to protect against a disease is to be prepared for it. Maintaining the highest levels of biosecurity is vital. Being aware of symptoms of bird flu that could show in all livestock is crucial. As the biosecurity industry leaders, Livetec are your go-to partner to protect the future of your livestock and your livelihood with our biosecurity plans and Biosecurity Advisory Service.
For more information contact the Livetec team here.
