H5N1 Avian Flu Cases Rise in U.S. Dairy Herds and Domestic Cats, Prompting Increased Surveillance
Source: The DairyNews
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported an increase in H5N1 avian flu confirmations, adding five more dairy herds across three states to its list.
The states affected include Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in dairy herds nationwide to 145 across 12 states.
In addition to the outbreaks in dairy herds, H5N1 has also been confirmed in three more domestic cats from Minnesota and Michigan, increasing the total number of infected cats to 33 since 2022. The cats in Minnesota were identified as feral barn cats on a dairy farm in Sibley County, with samples collected on June 10. In Michigan, the infected cat was from Ottawa County, which has seen several outbreaks in dairy cows; samples for this cat were collected on April 18. Notably, a raccoon from the same county was also found to be infected, with samples collected on the same date.
The spread of H5N1 has also impacted wildlife, with APHIS reporting additional detections in four wild birds from two counties in Iowa. These birds, sampled in mid to late June, included a red-winged blackbird, robin, turkey vulture, and barn swallow from Plymouth and Sioux counties.
These ongoing incidents underscore the persistent threat of H5N1 across different animal populations and highlight the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures to contain the spread of this virus.
In addition to the outbreaks in dairy herds, H5N1 has also been confirmed in three more domestic cats from Minnesota and Michigan, increasing the total number of infected cats to 33 since 2022. The cats in Minnesota were identified as feral barn cats on a dairy farm in Sibley County, with samples collected on June 10. In Michigan, the infected cat was from Ottawa County, which has seen several outbreaks in dairy cows; samples for this cat were collected on April 18. Notably, a raccoon from the same county was also found to be infected, with samples collected on the same date.
The spread of H5N1 has also impacted wildlife, with APHIS reporting additional detections in four wild birds from two counties in Iowa. These birds, sampled in mid to late June, included a red-winged blackbird, robin, turkey vulture, and barn swallow from Plymouth and Sioux counties.
These ongoing incidents underscore the persistent threat of H5N1 across different animal populations and highlight the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures to contain the spread of this virus.
