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While we tend to focus primarily on diseases infecting humans, we live in a diverse, and highly interconnected eco-system. Diseases that currently only affect other species have a bad habit of eventually spilling over into humans - and even when they don't - they can have huge impacts on our lives in other ways.
In 2018 we watched as African Swine Fever swept across China, which led to the loss of more than 50% of China's pig production (African Swine Fever In China: Epizootic or An EpicZootic?), increasing food insecurity while causing tremendous economic losses.
Although avian influenza remains primarily a disease of birds, we've seen a few thousand spillovers (H5, H7, H9, etc.) to humans over the past 30 years - and a growing number of mammalian infections - raising concerns that our current global HPAI H5 epizootic could eventually lead to a pandemic.
The same can be said for the myriad of swine-influenza viruses circulating in pigs around the world (see EID Journal: Zoonotic Threat of G4 Genotype Eurasian Avian-Like Swine Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses, China, 2020).
While most of these diseases will never successfully jump to humans, the WHO warns:
It is estimated that, globally, about one billion cases of illness and millions of death occur every year from zoonoses. Some 60% of emerging infectious diseases that are reported globally are zoonoses. Over 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the last three decades, 75% of which have originated in animals [1].
So reports, such as we are seeing this week from Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico of an as-yet-unidentified disease affecting dairy cattle in the American Midwest are worthy of our attention. There are no indications that it can infect humans at this time, but scientists are just beginning to recognize its presence.
Dairy owners are reported their cows are suffering from a `flu-like' condition, with a concurrent drop in milk production. The disease was apparently first reported in the Texas Panhandle. The following notice appeared this week on the Texas Animal Health Commission's website.
TAHC is aware of reports of a condition lending to a loss of milk production among some dairy cattle. Government, industry, and veterinary medical practitioners are working together to monitor reported cases, develop a case definition, and conduct additional diagnostics. TAHC and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) urge dairies to promptly report affected animals to TVMDL-Canyon and submit samples for testing.Dairy Level Guidance:
- In addition to biosecurity best management practices, it is recommended that dairies implement enhanced biosecurity measures to protect their facilities. It is recommended to limit persons coming onto dairies to employees and essential personnel only.
- If you believe dairy cattle within your herd are showing signs of this condition, contact your herd veterinarian immediately. Veterinarians at the dairy facility level can best assess these animals, decide on appropriate supportive care, and determine the appropriate samples to be taken and diagnostics to be performed.
- Veterinarians may call Dr. Alexis Thompson at TVMDL-Canyon, 806-651-7478, to make case specific diagnostic plans and receive guidance on sample collection.
- General situational updates will be provided here, on the TAHC website. General and media inquiries should be directed to public_info@tahc.texas.gov, or 800-550-8242.
New Mexico's Livestock board provides additional details:
New Mexico’s State Veterinarian Issues Update on Animal Health Situation
Illness impacting some dairy cattle in New Mexico and Texas is under investigation
The New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), working in conjunction with other local, state and federal agencies, is aware of an ongoing Animal Health Situation at dairies in Texas and New Mexico. The NMLB is utilizing its vast resources to ensure the food supply chain remains safe and secure.
Veterinarians in New Mexico are being urged to check with other states on receiving requirements of all cattle prior to shipment.
Recently, dairy farms in the Texas Panhandle experienced a still undefined illness in some dairy cows. Affected dairy facilities are reporting that only a portion of the herd (an estimated 5% to 20%) is showing clinical signs. Observed symptoms include:
The New Mexico Agriculture Livestock Incident Response Team (NM-ALIRT) – a cooperative effort between NMLB, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (NMSU ACES) – has been activated. Together they will help provide a timely response throughout this Animal Health Situation.
- Reduced milk production
- Unexpected drop in feed intake
- Thick, colostrum-like milk
- Tacky feces +/- diarrhea
- Low-grade fever
- Dehydration
- Mild respiratory symptoms
Importantly, there is no known threat to the state’s milk supply nor have there been any known deaths of cattle linked to the illness. Furthermore, symptoms are only being reported primarily in mid-lactation cows and older milkers. Other livestock such as horses, beef cattle, sheep and goats are not being impacted. There is also no known threat to human health.
In Texas, which was the first to report the illness, most dairy cows are recovering within two to three weeks. However, in some cases, milk production has been slow to return. This could cause a financial strain on some dairy producers in the state.
Dairy producers are encouraged to implement enhanced biosecurity measures by limiting the amount of traffic into and out of their properties and restricting visits to employees and essential personnel only. Routine and quality testing continues to occur to ensure that only safe milk and meat enter the food supply. Impacted dairy cows are being segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern.
New Mexico producers and veterinarians who observe any of the symptoms listed above are strongly encouraged to contact the New Mexico Livestock Board.
Updates will be posted to the NMLB website.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has been made aware of several cases of an unusual disease in dairy cattle in Texas. UDAF is monitoring the situation and is working with our cattle industry groups to provide accurate information to producers and veterinarians. There are no restrictions on cattle imports from Texas at this time.
The cause of this disease has not been determined, but, to date, dairies in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico have reported cattle with the same or similar symptoms. This disease has only affected dairy cattle so far. Symptoms of this disease include a sudden drop in milk production, thickened colostrum-like milk, a drop in feed consumption, reduced rumen motility, tacky feces or diarrhea, and some fever. Some cows also developed pneumonia or mastitis. Older cows appear to be the most severely affected, while dry cows and heifers (non-milk producing) do not appear to be affected. Instances of death in these cattle have been rare.
Likewise, the Pennsylvania State Extension office posted a report late last week, which included the following advice:
The Texas Animal Health Commission, along with other organizations are investigating the epidemiology of this disease to determine how it spreads. Once this information is released, the next steps for dairy farms will be much clearer. Until that time, dairies should focus on watching for signs of this disease and ramping up biosecurity.
A few important biosecurity practices are:
- Provide boots or boot covers for visitors regardless of whether they will enter animal areas or not.
- Provide all workers, both employees and family, work boots dedicated to the farm that do not go elsewhere.
- Keep a log of visitors to the operation.
- Should this spread beyond Texas, further biosecurity measures may be warranted including:
- Limit visitors to those essential to the operation and exclude visitors from animal areas when possible.
- Discuss biosecurity options with your veterinarian if new cattle enter the herd or heifers return from a mixed-source heifer grower.
