Wyoming is now the 10th state where bird flu has infected dairy cows.
State Veterinarian Hallie Hasel said the highly pathogenic avian influenza infection was confirmed Friday, though she didn’t disclose a location.
Still, she said in a news release that the risk to human health was very low and the risk to cattle was minimal.
“The primary concern with this diagnosis is on-dairy production losses, as the disease has been associated with decreased milk production,” she stated.
Three people have been infected with the H5N1 bird flu after contact with infected dairy cows, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One other person was infected after contact with poultry.
Meanwhile, more than 80 dairy cow herds have been infected as of June 7, according to the CDC. Federal agencies and officials continue to track the disease’s movement and analyze how it’s spreading.
“While it is still unclear exactly how virus is spreading, the virus is shed in milk at high concentrations; therefore, anything that comes in contact with unpasteurized raw milk, spilled milk, etc. may spread the virus including other animals, vehicles, and other objects or materials,” the USDA stated.
A federal order in April requires dairy cows to test negative for the virus before moving across state lines. The USDA also requires 30-day quarantines for dairy cows that have tested positive before retesting the animals.
Biosecurity measures are critical to helping prevent the spread of disease, Hasel said, and those include keeping areas clean, limiting wildlife traffic, segregating infected populations and regular monitoring.
Milk and meat safety
Symptoms of the disease in dairy cows include low appetite, decreasing milk production, abnormally thick or discolored milk, manure consistency changes, and low-grade fever, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association and a press release from the state livestock board and agriculture department.
This strain of the bird flu does cause cows to shed virus in their milk, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported. Pasteurizing milk kills viruses, but it can still exist in raw milk, so the agency sent states and Tribal authorities a letter Thursday urging vigilance, caution and communication about the dangers of raw dairy as it pertains to the bird flu.
While the Food and Drug Administration prohibits interstate sales of raw milk, some states like Wyoming have legalized the products’ sale locally.
“For states that permit the sale of raw milk within their state, use regulatory authorities or implement other measures, as appropriate, to stop the sale of raw milk that may present a risk to consumers,” the USDA wrote. “This may include restricting the introduction of raw milk that may contain viable [highly pathogenic avian influenza] H5N1, for human or animal consumption, within a defined geographic area, or within your state.”
As for meat, the USDA “is confident that the meat supply is safe,” it stated.
“USDA has a rigorous meat inspection process, which includes Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) veterinarians who are present at all federal livestock slaughter facilities,” it stated.
And none of the diseased cattle ends up in circulation for human consumption, Hasel added.
“So as far as ground beef and other meat products, they are totally safe to eat at this point in time with regards to avian influenza,” she said.
Still, the USDA cautioned that people fully cook meat to a temperature that would kill any pathogens.
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