Bird flu showing up in dairy cows in 5 states: Here's how Ohio farmers can prepare

WKYC Channel 3
WKYC Channel 3
933
0
Published 2024-04-01
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.

Monica Robins reports: www.wkyc.com/article/news/health/bird-flu-dairy-co…
All Comments (5)
  • @scrane5500
    Thanks for covering this. Could you also cover Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV) and how it is being found in breast and lung cancer cells?
  • @CuriouslyBored
    Consider doing a search engine query of the following: what is the survival rate of past bird flu pandemics? COVID-19 has a survival rate of 98%-99%. Historically, bird flu epidemic/pandemic strains have yet to allow a human survival rate that is greater than north of 50%.