The United States is facing its first outbreak of bird flu among cattle, leading to abnormal dairy milk in the states of Texas and Kansas. Cows at four dairy farms have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), with traces of the virus found in milk samples before pasteurization. The contaminated milk has been described as syrupy and thick, but experts assure that pasteurization would effectively kill the virus.
This marks the first confirmation that cattle can be infected with bird flu, with researchers pointing to migrating avian species as the likely source of the virus. Approximately 10% of affected cows in the impacted dairy herds have been infected, resulting in a significant drop in milk production. Farmers have also reported deceased wild birds on their property, raising concerns about the spread of the virus.
In a separate incident, goats in Minnesota have also tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, adding to the over 200 cases of HPAI in mammals recorded since 2022, including cows and goats. Despite the infections, officials believe that cattle are expected to fully recover from the virus, eliminating the need for depopulation of dairy herds.
As researchers continue to investigate how the virus jumped to cows and its original source, the Texas Department of Agriculture is closely monitoring the situation and providing support to the dairy industry. With ongoing research and surveillance, efforts are being made to contain and mitigate the impact of this unprecedented outbreak of bird flu among cattle.
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