Cattle Must Be Tested for Bird Flu Before Interstate Transport

Bird flu has now been detected in cattle in 33 dairy herds in eight states: Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio and Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) attributes part of the spread to the transportation of infected cows to new herds.The virus has not been reported in Nebraska dairy cattle or other livestock.To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA ( U.S. Department of Agriculture) is taking a number of actions with federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy CattlePrior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.Dairy cattle moving interstate must adhere to conditions specified by APHIS.As will be described in forthcoming guidance, these steps will be immediately required for lactating dairy cattle, while these requirements for other classes of dairy cattle will be based on scientific factors concerning the virus and its evolving risk profile.Mandatory ReportingLaboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS.Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS.USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive. On April 16, APHIS microbiologists identified a shift in an H5N1 sample from a cow in Kansas that could indicate that the virus has an adaptation to mammals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted further analysis of the specimen sequence, which did not change their overall risk assessment for the general public, because the substitution has been seen previously in other mammalian infections and does not impact viral transmission. Additionally, APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories found H5N1 in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic cull dairy cow that originated from an affected herd and did not enter the food supply.According to USDA, the movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action. Requiring positive test reporting is intended to help USDA better under this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread.USDA stated, “While we are taking this action today, it is important to remember that thus far, we have not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, our partners at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that the current risk to the public remains low.”The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement, “It is important to emphasize that, based on the information and research available to us at this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and USDA believe that our commercial milk supply is safe because of both the pasteurization process and the required diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows. Pasteurization has continuously proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses in milk. The FDA and USDA continue to work closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to avian influenza in dairy cattle and to support state counterparts as this emerging disease in dairy cattle is managed.

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