Avian influenza detected in U.S. dairy cows

Cows on dairy farms in Texas and Kansas have tested positive for a contagious strain of avian influenza in an “unprecedented development,” Texas agriculture officials announced Wednesday.

Texas Agriculture Secretary Sid Miller said in a statement that he is working with the Texas Department of Agriculture and other state and national agencies “around the clock to ensure the security of our food supply.”

But Miller added, “While troubling, this outbreak is not currently expected to threaten our nation's commercial dairy supply.”

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, Texas is one of the five highest milk producing states in the United States.

A press release said tests found no changes in the virus that could make it more transmissible to humans and that the risk to the public was “minimal.”

“Further efforts are underway to continue epidemiological investigations to ensure that the full picture of the situation can be assessed,” it added.

The TDA announced that positive samples were collected from unpasteurized milk collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one dairy farm in Texas, and the results were confirmed by analysis on March 25.

The report added that HPAI had not been detected in any beef cattle, but urged all farmers to implement “enhanced biosecurity measures on farms and ranches to protect their herds”. .

TRA said it is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies to assess the condition in primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico.

Source: guardian.ng