Penn State Dairy Herd Confirmed Free of Avian Influenza
Source: DairyNews.today
After three weeks of rigorous testing under a voluntary state monitoring program, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences has confirmed that its dairy herd is free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This certification comes as part of Pennsylvania's ongoing efforts to monitor and prevent the spread of the virus in dairy cattle, a concern that has impacted herds in over a dozen states since March.
Ernest Hovingh, extension veterinarian and clinical professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at Penn State, announced the successful certification. “The Penn State dairy herd has achieved ‘monitored herd’ status under the Pennsylvania Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program,” Hovingh stated. “This means the herd has met all program requirements, including multiple negative weekly test results for the HPAI virus.”
In response to a recent outbreak of avian flu affecting dairy cattle across the United States, Penn State initiated testing in July as a proactive measure. As of August 22, no cases of HPAI have been detected in Pennsylvania dairy herds, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state animal health authorities.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has strongly encouraged all dairy farms within the state to enroll in the voluntary monitoring program. This initiative aims to provide crucial data on the health status of Pennsylvania’s dairy herds and ensure rapid detection and response should HPAI be found in the state.
Testing at Penn State involved analyzing bulk-tank milk samples, representing the university’s entire milking herd, using highly sensitive real-time PCR tests conducted by the Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State. Mathias Martins, head of the lab’s virology and molecular diagnostics sections, emphasized the reliability of these tests. “The real-time PCR test conducted to monitor HPAI in dairy is highly sensitive and specific, ensuring a high level of confidence in the laboratory results,” Martins explained. The negative results over three consecutive weeks have confirmed the absence of the virus in the Penn State herd.
Jacob Werner, research professor and attending veterinarian at Penn State, who oversees the health and well-being of all university livestock, noted that the university's cows have remained healthy, with no new animals introduced to the herd—an important factor in preventing the spread of HPAI. Despite the minimal risk of infection, Penn State will continue weekly testing under the state monitoring program.
“It’s a very simple process to take a sample and submit it to the lab,” Werner said, highlighting the ease and no-cost nature of the testing, which is funded by the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Hovingh and Werner also emphasized the importance of Penn State’s role in leading state and national surveillance efforts. “By testing our herd, we hope to have set an example for others to participate in the Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program,” Hovingh remarked. “Besides confirming our expectation that our herd is free of avian flu, one of our goals was to inspire dairy producers across the state to test their herds too, so Pennsylvania animal health authorities can document that the state is in fact HPAI-free, as well as detect any outbreak that might occur and nip it in the bud before it has a chance to spread.”
In response to a recent outbreak of avian flu affecting dairy cattle across the United States, Penn State initiated testing in July as a proactive measure. As of August 22, no cases of HPAI have been detected in Pennsylvania dairy herds, according to reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state animal health authorities.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has strongly encouraged all dairy farms within the state to enroll in the voluntary monitoring program. This initiative aims to provide crucial data on the health status of Pennsylvania’s dairy herds and ensure rapid detection and response should HPAI be found in the state.
Testing at Penn State involved analyzing bulk-tank milk samples, representing the university’s entire milking herd, using highly sensitive real-time PCR tests conducted by the Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State. Mathias Martins, head of the lab’s virology and molecular diagnostics sections, emphasized the reliability of these tests. “The real-time PCR test conducted to monitor HPAI in dairy is highly sensitive and specific, ensuring a high level of confidence in the laboratory results,” Martins explained. The negative results over three consecutive weeks have confirmed the absence of the virus in the Penn State herd.
Jacob Werner, research professor and attending veterinarian at Penn State, who oversees the health and well-being of all university livestock, noted that the university's cows have remained healthy, with no new animals introduced to the herd—an important factor in preventing the spread of HPAI. Despite the minimal risk of infection, Penn State will continue weekly testing under the state monitoring program.
“It’s a very simple process to take a sample and submit it to the lab,” Werner said, highlighting the ease and no-cost nature of the testing, which is funded by the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
Hovingh and Werner also emphasized the importance of Penn State’s role in leading state and national surveillance efforts. “By testing our herd, we hope to have set an example for others to participate in the Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program,” Hovingh remarked. “Besides confirming our expectation that our herd is free of avian flu, one of our goals was to inspire dairy producers across the state to test their herds too, so Pennsylvania animal health authorities can document that the state is in fact HPAI-free, as well as detect any outbreak that might occur and nip it in the bud before it has a chance to spread.”
