Credit USDA
#17,982
Although we've known since last week that preliminary tests had indicated HPAI in an Idaho Dairy herd, this afternoon the USDA has confirmed those test results, making Idaho the 5th state with confirmed HPAI in cattle.
This announcement also indicates that confirmatory tests are being performed on additional samples submitted by Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas.
This afternoon CIDRAP news also reported that Texas has confirmed that three cats on affected farms tested positive for HPAI, and that evidence supporting cow-to-cow transmission continues to grow.
Excerpts from today's announcement from the USDA follow:
USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Herd in Idaho(Continue . . . )
Press Release
Contact:
APHISpress@usda.gov
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy herd in Idaho. APHIS shared on Friday, March 29 that its National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, was working to confirm presumptive positive test results from an Idaho herd; this announcement is a follow up to that information.
This marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Idaho. To date, USDA has confirmed the detection of HPAI in dairy herds in Texas (7) Kansas (2), Michigan (1), and New Mexico (1).
The NVSL is currently performing confirmatory tests on presumptive positive results from Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. It is important to note that, while these samples are from cattle with at least some clinical signs in common with other cattle diagnosed with HPAI, the presence of HPAI should not be considered confirmed until the NVSL analysis is complete.
APHIS has created a landing page with recent announcements pertaining to HPAI detections in livestock, as well as biosecurity information and other resources. Going forward, APHIS will post confirmed detections of HPAI in livestock on that landing page by 4:00 p.m. ET each day.
APHIS continues to work closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, to investigate and diagnose the illness in dairy cows causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other clinical signs.
USDA and federal and state partners will continue to share additional updates as information becomes available. APHIS has also prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document, which can be accessed here as well as a document with recommendations for state animal health officials, veterinarians, and producers, which may be found here.
