ARLINGTON, Va. — State and federal agencies are investigating cases of avian Influenza, or bird flu, that are infecting dairy cattle.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Idaho and Michigan. Infected goats were discovered in Minnesota.
Migratory birds are known carriers, but what's unclear is how transmission is happening.
"It could be such things as contamination of water, it's possible it's in the fecal matter from the birds or their close proximity to the animals," said Jamie Jonker, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer for the National Milk Producers Federation.
Jonker says Ohio farmers are being asked to watch their dairy cows for symptoms including a lack of appetite, decreased lactation and diarrhea. They also advised farmers to keep their biosecurity measures updated and in place.
Experts don't believe the illness will impact the milk or dairy supply because pasteurization kills the virus and sick cows would be removed from the supply.
"I think the important thing for consumers to understand is that, one, this isn't going from cattle to people. The milk from the animals that are affected by the avian influenza is separated out. We actually have the requirements under what's called the Great Pasteurized Milk Ordinance that's been in place for 100 years now that when a dairy cow is sick or has abnormal milk, that milk is separated and not not sold for consumption," Jonker said.
He added that dairy farms are inspected many times a year by the State Departments of Animal Health and the State Departments of Public Health to make sure they're in compliance.
Unlike what happened with bird flu in chickens, the virus doesn't appear to be killing the cows and most recover from the illness.
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