First case of avian influenza in livestock detected in US

Goat Meat

Dairy

United States

Regulation & Compliances

Market & Price Trends

Published Mar 29, 2024

Tridge summary

The United States has reported its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affecting dairy cows and sheep, with incidents in Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. Initially identified after a dead goat and several cows tested positive in Minnesota, the outbreak has been confirmed by the Texas Animal Health Commission in sick animals and unpasteurized milk. While pasteurization ensures the safety of milk for consumers, the virus primarily affects older cows, leading to symptoms such as loss of appetite, fever, and decreased milk production. The USDA points to wild birds as the likely source of the infection, with evidence found near affected farms. This outbreak raises concerns about the virus spreading to other farmed animals and the potential for intraspecies transmission among cows.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows and sheep has been detected in the United States. The New York Times writes about this, citing data from the country's Department of Agriculture (USDA). It has been reported in herds in Kansas, New Mexico and Texas. The inspection began after the virus was discovered in a dead goat on one of the farms in Stevens County (Minnesota) and several cows in other counties. The Texas Animal Health Commission has confirmed the presence of avian influenza virus in samples obtained from sick animals. Other experts also found it in samples of unpasteurized milk from affected cows. However, they recalled that when milk is pasteurized, this virus is killed, so the products will be safe for consumers. There were either no deaths in the affected herds, or only a few cases were recorded. In addition, it turned out that the adults were not harmed. The publication recalls that the infection primarily affects older cows and ...

Source: Rosng