July 17, 2024

 

Oklahoma, US, reports bird flu in dairy cattle, becomes 13th state affected

Oklahoma, US, has become the 13th state in the country to detect bird flu in dairy cattle, confirmed the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), though the state said the infection occurred months ago, Reuters reported.

 

The confirmation indicates the outbreak was more extensive than US authorities initially realised after the virus was first identified in dairy cattle in late March. Bird flu has since been detected in more than 150 dairy herds across the nation.

 

The cases are part of a widespread outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, which has been spreading globally in wild birds, infecting poultry and various species of mammals. Four dairy workers have tested positive for the virus this year. However, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the risk to the public remains low.

 

An Oklahoma dairy collected the positive sample in April when it suspected its herd might have been infected, said Lee Benson, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The dairy recently sent stored samples to the USDA for testing after learning it could receive financial assistance for lost milk production due to bird flu, Benson explained.

 

The USDA has launched a programme to compensate farmers with sick cows for 90% of lost milk production per cow, aiming to encourage farmers to test herds and report infections.

 

The USDA reported two positive herds in Oklahoma on its website. Benson clarified that the confirmed positive sample came from one Oklahoma dairy that has two separate barns.

 

Oklahoma's agriculture department believes the USDA received the dairy's samples in the first week of July, Benson said. The herd has since fully recovered, and the state has not received reports of other possible infections.

 

Oklahoma has made protective gear available to dairy farmers and requested dairies to increase safety and security measures, said state veterinarian Rod Hall. There is no mandatory testing of cows in Oklahoma, according to the state agriculture department.

 

In related news, Colorado reported four confirmed bird flu infections in poultry workers and is checking on the status of a fifth suspected case, health authorities said.

 

-      Reuters