#18,333
Just over a month ago, California - which had previously believed they had no infected dairy herds - announced the discovery of 3 infected herds. Since then they've reported a steady rise in HPAI H5 infected herds, reaching 34 herds by early last week.
While the last update on the CFDA website lists 44 dairies infected (as of Oct 1st), today the USDA has announced at least 10 more infected herds (n=54).
The most recent additions (n=11).
California has well over 1,000 dairy herds, but testing remains limited, apparently reserved for dairies with direct connections to known infected farms and/or in close proximity to infected premises.
With the exception of Colorado, states have been unwilling to aggressively pursue mandatory testing of cattle or of bulk milk tanks. As a result, we have no idea how widespread this virus really is in American cattle.
Assurances that the `milk supply is safe due to pasteurization' - while largely true - ignores the legal sale of raw milk in many of theses states (including California), and the very real problem that infected cows have been transmitting this virus to other hosts (including cats, rodents, and even humans), where it may evolve further.
Admittedly, our current strategy of `don't test, and don't tell' - while fervently hoping the virus goes away - may end up working. But it relies heavily on our getting extremely lucky with this HPAI virus.
And looking back over the past 5 years, our luck with emerging viruses hasn't been running that good.
