University of Minnesota Leads $1.5M USDA Initiative to Combat Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle
Source: dairynews.today
The University of Minnesota has secured a $1.5 million grant to address bird flu's spread in dairy cattle.
The University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle.
This comes amid concerns about HPAI's emergence in dairy herds, following its detection in U.S. poultry, wild birds, mammals, and now cattle. Since the H5N1 bird flu strain's first detection in poultry in 2022, 68 human cases have been linked to outbreaks, including one fatality.
The research initiative unites experts in virology, epidemiology, and agricultural biosecurity across nine projects aimed at tracking the virus's spread, developing diagnostic tools, and guiding containment strategies.
The program also aligns with a new national milk surveillance program, with significant contributions from Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Minnesota is strategically positioned for this research due to its diverse dairy, turkey, and swine industries, offering extensive diagnostic capabilities and partnerships.
This comes amid concerns about HPAI's emergence in dairy herds, following its detection in U.S. poultry, wild birds, mammals, and now cattle. Since the H5N1 bird flu strain's first detection in poultry in 2022, 68 human cases have been linked to outbreaks, including one fatality.
The research initiative unites experts in virology, epidemiology, and agricultural biosecurity across nine projects aimed at tracking the virus's spread, developing diagnostic tools, and guiding containment strategies.
The program also aligns with a new national milk surveillance program, with significant contributions from Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Minnesota is strategically positioned for this research due to its diverse dairy, turkey, and swine industries, offering extensive diagnostic capabilities and partnerships.
