HPAI detected in Idaho dairy herd
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) identified Thursday highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a Cassia County dairy cattle operation.
These are the first cases of HPAI in a livestock operation in Idaho. The affected facility recently imported cattle from another state that has identified cases of HPAI in cattle, which suggests the virus may be transmitted from cow-to-cow, in addition to previous reports indicating cattle were acquiring the virus from infected birds.
The primary concern with this diagnosis is on-dairy production losses, as the disease has been associated with decreased milk production.
Symptoms of HPAI in cattle include:
- Drop in milk production
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in manure consistency
- Thickened or colostrum-like milk
- Low-grade fever
At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The ISDA encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their local veterinarian immediately if cattle appear to show symptoms. HPAI is a mandatory reportable disease, any Idaho veterinarians who suspect cases of HPAI in livestock should immediately report it to ISDA at 208-332-8540 or complete the HPAI Livestock Screen HERE.
It is recommended to enhance biosecurity measures across all livestock facilities in Idaho. Biosecurity practices can be found HERE.
