Anytime we hear about a highly contagious viral strain spreading quickly throughout our farms, panic can set into our minds. Experience is quite the teacher, and we don’t forget too easily how much novel diseases can impact the dairy industry. Despite experience, when confronted with a new pathogenic threat, we are left with questions: Has it spread to our northeastern farms? What measures must we enact? Through preparation, panic can be quelled. As Benjamin Franklin wisely noted, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Avian influenza type A (H5N1) primarily affects birds, with sporadic cases occurring in mammals, including humans. You might have encountered different terms for the ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle, such as HPAI, H5N1, Avian Influenza in cattle, or Bovine Influenza A Virus. In March, Texas witnessed its transmission to dairy herds, resulting in reduced milk production and decreased feed intake among lactating cows. In affected herds, as is the standard across the dairy industry, sick animals are being separated with only milk from healthy cows being marketed. Additionally, pasteurization remains a vital step in ensuring the safety of milk for human consumption. The USDA has reassured the public of the milk’s safety, stating that there are no immediate concerns regarding its consumption or easy transmission to humans. Further information on food safety related to H5N1 in dairy products, including raw milk and cheese can be found here.
To date, the outbreak has been reported in 36 herds across nine states, predominantly in Texas, with additional cases reported in Michigan, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, South Dakota, Ohio and North Carolina. While there have been no reported cases in New York, it is important that we are prepared in the event that it enters the state. The movement of certain classes of dairy cattle is currently under state and federal orders temporarily requiring increased testing and veterinary inspection of transported animals with the goal of limiting viral spread.
On a positive note, it seems that most dairy cattle recover from H5N1 within 7-10 days. Furthermore, even among the farms affected, only about 10% of the lactating herd is becoming infected and showing clinical signs. However, mitigation of this infectious disease is the goal, making a thorough biosecurity plan essential. Comprehensive guidance put forth by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the National Milk Producer’s Federation can be found here in both English and Spanish. Bilingual posters, videos and other biosecurity resources can be found on the Secure Milk Supply website. Here are three key actions you can take:
- Wild migratory birds are the primary carriers of this disease. One of the most effective proactive measures you can take on your farm is to deter wild birds from accessing your premises and defecating in feed, water and housing facilities. This is easier said than done, and guidance can be found here. It’s crucial to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when removing dead wild birds from the facilities. This is essential to ensure the health and safety of employees. The following flyer provides guidance on PPE for dairy personnel in English or Spanish.
- While human infection remains limited, it is crucial to educate our employees about this disease, providing information in their native language. Those working with sick animals must be instructed to take additional precautions. The Migrant Clinicians Network has made these materials available for distribution in English and Spanish. Early detection is key to stopping H5N1 from spreading to other farms. So, it’s important to teach our employees what signs to look for in the herd and stress the need for communicating any concerns quickly.
- Thirdly, limit visitors to the farm and ensure that every person entering is wearing clean clothing and washes their boots thoroughly to prevent contamination. Make this a permanent requirement for all visitors to the farm. Most visitors will appreciate the meticulous care taken for the well-being of the herds and will willingly comply with these standards.
Here is a short YouTube video in Spanish that you can share with your workforce, providing key facts about the disease and its implications for the dairy industry and its employees.
Here is a video in Spanish made by our very own Bilingual Dairy Management Specialist, Kaitlyn Lutz.
Tomorrow, May 17th at 12pm, Ag Workforce Development will co-host a webinar for Spanish-speaking dairy farm employees. We’ll discuss the current outbreak of HPAI in dairy cattle, covering clinical signs to watch for and important biosecurity measures for both cattle and their caretakers. This is great opportunity for employees to have a safe space to ask any questions and for us to address any concerns about HPAI. Click here to join: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/96519218869?pwd=Y0U3U253NjJRQVZEejRnVjdzUTNqdz09
This session will be recorded and can be accessed for a later date.
Written by: Maria “Bess” Lewis and Kaitlyn Lutz
References
Association, A. V. (2024, April 26). Avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) in U.S. dairy cattle. Retrieved from AVMA: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-virus-type-h5n1-us-dairy-cattle#:~:text=Avian%20influenza%20virus%20type%20A%20(H5N1)%20has%20been%20confirmed%20in,to%20frequently%20asked%20ques
Stobbe, M. (2024, March 28). 1. Retrieved from Dairy cows in Texas, Kansas test positive for avian flu: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/dairy-cows-in-texas-kansas-test-positive-for-avian-flu
Wagoner, R. (2024, April 16). Highly pathogenic avian influenza now in 28 dairy herds in 8 states. Retrieved from Farm and Dairy: https://www.farmanddairy.com/news/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-now-in-28-dairy-herds-in-8-states/820714.html
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By Mary Lewis, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Preparing for Avian Influenza on Dairy Farms appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
