Wisconsin Dairy Farms Closely Watching Avian Flu Cases in Cattle

State leaders are urging Wisconsin dairy producers to take extra precautions against the spread of avian influenza.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture first confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy herds in Kansas and Texas last week. Cases in Michigan and Idaho have also been confirmed, as well as a presumptive positive test in a New Mexico herd.

Texas health officials reported Monday a person in direct contact with infected dairy cows has tested positive for the virus. The Texas agency said in a press release that the patient experienced eye inflammation as their only symptom and is being treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir.

It’s the second confirmed human case of the highly infectious H5N1 flu in the U.S., according to the CDC. The first case in 2022 was in a person who was culling infected poultry on a Colorado farm.

Health officials said the case does not change the risk for the general public, which remains low. USDA said in a press release Friday that initial testing of the virus has not found changes that would make it more transmissible to humans.

Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said the case highlights the importance of immediate action by dairy farmers if they see disease symptoms in their animals, which can include decreased lactation and low appetite. He said the people working on a farm with sick animals should be monitored closely.

“We don’t think that it’s a significant public health threat at this point,” Poulsen said. “But just like in our farms with poultry (highly pathogenic) avian influenza, they’re getting a large challenge, so we need to watch them very closely, and make sure that everyone is provided with the best public health care that we have available.”

Federal and Wisconsin officials have reiterated there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or consumer health because dairy products are pasteurized before being sold. Pasteurization has been proven to inactivate viruses like influenza, according to the USDA.

Click here to read more wpr.org

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar