CHICAGO (FFN) – Bird flu has now infected dairy cows at three farms in California, the nation’s leading milk-producing state, expanding the U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 virus to a 14th state, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. This marks a significant development in the ongoing outbreak that has already impacted over 190 herds nationwide and infected 13 dairy and poultry farm workers since March, as reported by Reuters.
The virus’s transmission from birds to cows has heightened concerns about its potential to adapt and spread among humans. However, federal officials maintain that bird flu poses a low risk to the general public, and pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus in milk.
As of now, no human cases have been confirmed in California. The infected dairy herds, located in the state’s Central Valley region, began exhibiting symptoms on August 25, according to a statement from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
“This is a tough time for our dairy farmers given the economic challenges they’re facing,” said Karen Ross, California’s agriculture secretary. “We are approaching this incident with the utmost urgency.”
The infected dairies have been quarantined, with sick cows isolated and undergoing treatment on the farms. Healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed it is conducting tests to validate the cases in California and is working closely with state officials to contain the virus.
Key Words: bird flu, H5N1, dairy cows, California, USDA, virus outbreak, public health
