No bird flu found among South African dairy cattle

Published 2024년 4월 9일

Tridge summary

Recent reports have highlighted outbreaks of highly contagious bird flu in North American dairy herds, specifically in Texas, Kansas, and Michigan, sparking concerns over the potential for cattle-to-cattle transmission. Despite these alarming developments, the South African dairy organization, Melk SA, has assured that their local dairy cattle are free from bird flu, maintaining the safety of South African milk. In response to the outbreaks, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting thorough investigations, while the International Dairy Federation (ISF) has sought to reassure consumers about the safety of American commercial milk and dairy products, emphasizing the protective role of pasteurization. Authorities both locally and internationally are vigilant, implementing biosecurity measures to monitor and curb the spread of the virus, ensuring the continued safety of dairy products.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

While scientists are puzzled over recent cases of highly contagious bird flu in some North American dairy herds, Melk SA has confirmed that there is currently no reason to believe that bird flu is present among local dairy cattle. So far, no local herds have shown signs of bird flu infection and consumers can trust with peace of mind that a glass of South African milk is healthy and safe, says Dr Mark Chimes, consulting veterinarian of Melk SA. The organization will also give its cooperation to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to see how any local risk can be hedged. "It is important to ensure that the national flock remains avian flu-free." Meanwhile, producers are encouraged to ensure that all biosecurity measures are strictly adhered to. Watch Plaas TV's insert on dairy best practices here. USA dairy herds and bird flu During the last week of March this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a statement announcing that bird flu had ...

Source: Agriorbit