Dairy Science Weekly

USDA Updates

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order, effective Monday, April 29, 2024, requiring mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and mandatory reporting for laboratories and state veterinarians.

In an effort to maximize understanding and research on H5N1 in dairy cattle, APHIS made publicly available 239 genetic sequences from the U.S. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b influenza virus recently found in samples associated with the ongoing HPAI outbreak in poultry and wild birds, and the recent H5N1 event in dairy cattle. APHIS has also offered virus samples to interested researchers to facilitate epidemiological study and will continue making additional raw genetic sequences available on a rolling basis, which can be found using the search term “WGS of H5N1.”

• Get more information on biosecurity measures for producers
• Review the USDA’s frequently asked questions in English and in Spanish

Stay updated with the latest on their dedicated landing page, which contains recent announcements on HPAI detections in livestock and biosecurity information and other resources updated daily.

CDC Updates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported that a person in Texas has tested positive for the HPAI A(H5N1) virus. The human health risk assessment for the US general public is still considered low.

• Explore the CDC’s interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations
• Review the CDC’s recommendations for worker protection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of exposure.

FDA Updates

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA have indicated that the presence of the virus has been detected in raw milk using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing. They are completing a large representative national sample, to better understand the extent of these findings. Because qPCR findings do not represent actual virus that may be a risk to consumers, the FDA is further assessing any positive findings through egg inoculation tests, a gold-standard for determining viable virus. Results from multiple studies will be made available in the next few days to weeks.

• Review the FDA’s question-and-answer document on milk safety

Based on the information currently available, our commercial milk supply remains safe to consume due to the pasteurization process and the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows. Pasteurized milk and properly cooked meat remain safe to consume.

Avian Influenza A In Peer-Reviewed Literature

Avian influenza A viruses in ruminants are not entirely without precedent; a 2008 study experimentally infected bovine calves with HPAI, and a 2019 literature review explored the history of influenza A infections in bovine species.