The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a dairy cattle herd in Iowa, authorities said on June 5, marking the 10th U.S. state with cases of the influenza in cattle.
Testing confirmed the influenza in cattle in O'Brien County, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) performed confirmatory testing, the agency added. “Given the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a statement. “While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry.
Our team at the department has been preparing for this possibility and will soon be announcing additional response steps to protect our flocks and herds,” he added. The influenza, or the bird flu, has already been detected in poultry in Iowa and 48 other states. Authorities in Iowa and elsewhere recommend that poultry and dairy farmers limit visitors to their farms and report birds and cattle showing flu symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, to officials.
They also recommend keeping cattle separate from other species, isolating newly-arrived cattle, and heat-treating milk from cattle before feeding it to other mammals. “This remains an evolving situation and we will continue to be in close c.
