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A number of U.S. companies mentioned on Friday that for the primary time, the rampant hen flu has unfold to dairy cattle. Impacted cows have been discovered throughout a number of states as officers reemphasize the significance of solely consuming pasteurized dairy merchandise.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture, Meals and Drug Administration and Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed the unfold of the the hen flu, saying they examined sick cattle from dairy farms in Kansas and Texas. These checks got here again constructive for extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been impacting hen populations in Europe and Asia since August 2020 and “brought about in depth morbidity and mortality occasions” in comparable species throughout the U.S., based on the Fish and Wildlife Service.
This marks the first time the hen flu has been present in dairy cattle, the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation mentioned, and the findings got here simply days after the virus was detected in goats on a Minnesota farm. Within the fall, the hen flu additionally hit the polar bear species for the primary time, killing one of many bears, and it has additionally unfold to marine animals, killing tens of hundreds of seals and sea lions.
Chook flu was suspected of impacting U.S. cattle after dairy cows had been discovered to be experiencing “decreased lactation, low urge for food and different signs,” companies mentioned in a joint information launch. On March 25, they mentioned milk samples confirmed two farms in Kansas and one in Texas had been impacted. A swab from one other dairy farm in Texas additionally yielded a constructive consequence, they mentioned.
Chook flu was later present in a Michigan herd that had lately received cows from Texas, and “presumptive constructive take a look at outcomes have additionally been obtained for added herds in New Mexico, Idaho and Texas,” officers mentioned.
Sure animal species that contract the virus often achieve this from consuming sick or contaminated birds. Among the many dairy cows, nevertheless, officers say “transmission between cattle can’t be dominated out” based mostly on reported signs and testing outcomes. Those that personal dairy cattle have been urged to attenuate transferring their cattle and take a look at them once they do. Additionally they advisable that sick cows be remoted.
How will the hen flu influence U.S. milk provide?
Whereas impacted cattle are experiencing a decline in how a lot milk they produce, the federal government mentioned that thus far, the milk loss “is simply too restricted to have a significant influence on provide.”
“There must be no influence on the value of milk or different dairy merchandise,” the companies mentioned. “Additional, the U.S. sometimes has a greater than ample milk provide within the spring months as a result of seasonally larger manufacturing.”
There may be additionally no concern from the companies that milk within the industrial provide is unsafe. All milk merchandise have to be pasteurized and solely milk from wholesome animals is allowed to be despatched to processing for human consumption, they added.
“Milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed in order that it doesn’t enter the human meals provide,” companies mentioned. “As well as, pasteurization has regularly confirmed to inactivate micro organism and viruses, like influenza, in milk. FDA’s longstanding place is that unpasteurized, uncooked milk can harbor harmful microorganisms that may pose critical well being dangers to customers, and FDA is reminding customers of the dangers related to uncooked milk consumption in gentle of the HPAI detections.”
The unfold of hen flu to cattle comes simply weeks after Texas cattle ranchers within the panhandle had been devasted by the state’s largest-ever wildfire. Within the wake of the fires, hundreds of lifeless cows needed to be picked up throughout the scorched area.
“Our producers within the Texas Panhandle have already endured sufficient,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller mentioned, calling the scenario “unprecedented.” “The Texas Division of Agriculture will use each useful resource obtainable to take care of the excessive requirements of high quality and security that outline Texas agriculture.”
Can hen flu unfold to people?
Whereas there have been circumstances of hen flu spreading to people, well being officers have mentioned that these situations stay uncommon.
“Preliminary testing by the Nationwide Veterinary Providers Laboratories has not discovered adjustments to the virus that might make it extra transmissible to people, which might point out that the present threat to the general public stays low,” the USDA, FDA and CDC mentioned on Friday. “Federal and state companies are transferring rapidly to conduct further testing for HPAI, in addition to viral genome sequencing, in order that we are able to higher perceive the scenario, together with characterization of the HPAI pressure or strains related to these detections.”
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