USDA: California Reports Another 41 H5 Infected Dairy Herds (n=335)

 

#18,427

Last Friday, California reported H5N1 had been confirmed in 294 dairies (see screenshot below), along with reporting 26 human cases (+1 presumed but not confirmed case).

This morning the USDA is reporting another large jump in confirmed dairies in California, adding 41 confirmed sites over the weekend (n=335).   Nationally, the total is now at least 549 cases, although due to a lack in testing, the real number is unknown. 

At this point California is reporting more than 61% of the nation's infected dairy herds, with roughly 30% of that state's dairy herds testing positive.  It is unknown what percentage of the state's herds have been tested. 

Testing in most states remains voluntary except prior to interstate transport, and many farmers have resisted testing.  As a result of this `Don't test, don't tell' policy, we have no idea of how widespread the virus may be across the country.  

But if California is any indication, the problem is probably a lot bigger than we realize.