In the United States, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in sick cows for the first time. This is reported by the US Department of Agriculture, USDA.
Various dairy farms in the states of Texas, Kansas and New Mexico have for some time struggled with inexplicably sick cows that tend to eat less and produce poor milk. Animals show flu-like symptoms, fever and produce thick, discolored milk. Bird flu virus has now been detected in milk samples from sick cows on two farms in Kansas and one in Texas.
Migratory birds
The virus may have been introduced by migratory wild birds. Dead migratory birds have also been found on farms. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the first preliminary studies from veterinary laboratories indicate that the AI virus has not yet mutated to the point where it can be easily transmitted to humans. Federal and state agencies will now quickly conduct more tests on the virus to get more clarity on which strain it is.
According to the USDA, there is still no risk to public health. While dairies can only process milk from healthy animals for human consumption, milk from AI-infected animals is destroyed or diverted. In addition, pasteurization is sufficient to kill viruses and bacteria, the ministry said.
Report sick animals
Farmers and veterinarians are invited to report sick cows so that new cases are detected quickly.
On farms where avian influenza is prevalent among cattle, approximately ten percent of animals show clinical signs, with little or no mortality reported. Older cows are especially susceptible. According to the USDA, milk loss is currently very low. There is no question of killing something like avian flu in poultry farms. Experts expect the cows to eventually make a full recovery.
A few days ago, bird flu was detected in a goat farm in the state of Minnesota, the first case of AI in a livestock farm.
