June 11, 2026

HPAI found in Texas, US dairy cattle for first time in 2026

For the first time this year, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in Texas, US dairy cattle, according to a press release last week from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and according to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

"The dairy is currently under quarantine as part of existing response protocols, and state and federal officials are working closely to mitigate disease spread," TAHC said. "According to USDA APHIS, there is no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health or the safety of the commercial milk supply."

TAHC said milk from affected animals is being diverted from the commercial milk tank or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply.

In related news, APHIS has tracked avian flu in Idaho cattle throughout May. In total, 15 dairies in Idaho (14) and Texas (one) have confirmed cases in the past 30 days.

In other avian flu news, Indiana is the only state in the past two weeks reporting H5N1 detections on commercial country farms, according to APHIS. The most recent positive samples were from Elkhart County, in an outbreak involving 3,100 birds at a commercial duck meat facility.

In the past 30 days, avian flu has been confirmed in 24 flocks (16 commercial, 8 backyard), affecting 280,000 birds.

- CIDRAP