SACREMENTO, CA – Dairy farms in California have reported H5N1 infections in three herds, making the nation’s top milk-producing state the 14th in the nation to report bird flu in cattle.
Federal officials have confirmed that three California dairy herds have suffered outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu, due most likely to the transportation of cattle and not exposure to diseased birds. Health officials announced last week that they suspected cows at three Central Valley dairies had contracted the illness, and were awaiting testing for confirmation. On Tuesday, officials said those tests revealed that the strain of virus that infected California herds was nearly identical to that found in Colorado dairy herds — suggesting the infections were the result of interstate transfer of cattle.
Hoping to stop or slow the spread of the virus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture in April limited the movement of some interstate cattle transfers, mandating that lactating dairy cattle get tested for bird flu before any transfer, and that livestock owners report any positive cases before moving the animals across state lines.
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More than 190 herds have been infected across the nation since March. Federal data says the infections also include 13 dairy and poultry farm workers. The California Department of Food and Agriculture issued a statement saying that no human cases have been confirmed in the state.
The infected herds are in California’s Central Valley Region and began showing symptoms on August 25.
“It’s a tough time for those dairy farmers given the economic challenges they face,” says Karen Ross, California’s Secretary of Agriculture. “We’re approaching this with the utmost urgency and the infected cattle have been quarantined.”
The state has quarantined the three herds where infections have been confirmed. And all animal movement on or off those farms now requires permits.
