Bird flu, so far, confined to dairy cattle

BUFFALO (WNE) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is requiring producers of dairy cattle to have those animals tested for avian influenza before crossing state lines, as of late April.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, a disease typical to wild and domestic birds that's spread in Johnson County and nationwide, was recently discovered in dairy cows in eight states, including South Dakota and Idaho.

To date, the USDA hasn't reported any cases among beef cattle, which is the most common type of cattle production in Johnson County.

Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, said that while the organization is monitoring the issue, the outbreak has, so far, been confined to dairy cattle. How this spreads among cattle is still under investigation, according to the USDA.

“USDA has imposed restrictions on the movement of dairy cattle, but these do not apply to our beef cattle,” he wrote in an email.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mammals can be infected with the bird flu virus when they eat infected birds or other animals, or if they are exposed to environments contaminated with the virus. Currently, the CDC says, the risk to humans of contracting the virus is low.

Symptoms found in infected dairy cattle include decreased milk production and feed consumption, along with other signs of illness, such as fever or lethargy.

The most up-to-date information on avian influenza in cattle is available at https://www.aphis. usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avianinfluenza/hpai-detections/livestock.

This story was published on May 9, 2024.