H5N1 Avian Flu Enters Dairy Herd

Analysis of H5N1 avian flu samples have confirmed the infection has passed from birds to dairy cattle for the first time.

The H5N1 avian flu infection has spread to herds in multiple states as a result of shipping animals between farms. 

Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer, National Dairy Producers Federation:  “Well the landscape in the dairy sector has changed. There are now a number of farms in multiple states that have had high, highly pathogenic avian influenza diagnosed in one or more cows.  Before those diagnostics came out, we did not consider that dairy cattle could become infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza.”

The reported cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle are believed to be the first occurrence globally. 

The Center for Disease Control has also confirmed the infection of at least one farmworker who had close contact with infected animals. 

Symptoms are reduced feed intake and dramatically lowered milk production, changes in manure consistency, and general fatigue.

Infected animals appear to recover in 7-10 days. A few dairy cattle have stopped milk production after recovery, but it is unknown if the condition is temporary or permanent.

Rather than the respiratory distress symptoms in birds and poultry, H5N1 appears to cause an illness similar to mastitis in roughly 10 percent of an affected herd. There have been no observed deaths of dairy cattle as a result of H5N1. 

Dairy producers are encouraged to segregate animals with symptoms of H5N1, and to quarantine animals new to the farm for a month.

The H5N1 virus has been observed in raw milk from infected animals, but the virus does not survive pasteurization. Any milk from infected animals is destroyed.

Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer, National Dairy Producers Federation:  “A lot of this falls back on biosecurity.  And so, you know, we're still learning about the roots of transmission. So biosecurity is important. So when you have people that are coming on to the farm, wash your boots coming in, wash your boots going out. If a milk truck driver is going to multiple farms we want them to not be part of a potential spread as well.”

Experts hope a cautious, methodical approach to the response to the outbreak will be the best plan in the long term.

Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer, National Dairy Producers Federation:  “This is probably not going to go away in a couple of days. But that's why I think we need to make sure we're taking these measured approaches and not overstepping into areas where we just don't have the information yet.”

In related news, the nation's largest egg producer closed a plant in Texas after H5N1 avian flu was found in its supply chain. Cal-Maine Foods announced that nearly two million poultry were destroyed at an egg facility in West Texas. 

For Market to market, I’m Peter Tubbs