By Sherry Bunting, Farmshine, June 14, 2024

WASHINGTON – Bovine Influenza A / H5N1, known in birds and domestic poultry as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has spread to dairy herds in three more states — Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

As part of emergency response plans, as many as 16 states, including Pennsylvania, are rolling out voluntary bulk tank monitoring programs as supported by USDA’s May 31 announcement for a federal pilot program.

As of June 12, 2024 (updated to June 21), there are no detections of H5N1 in dairy herds and no active HPAI in poultry flocks in Pennsylvania.

The USDA APHIS website confirmed 93 detections in dairy herds in 12 states since March 25, of which 47 have been confirmed in the past 30 days (as of June 12) in just 8 states (in order of most recent detection): Idaho, Minnesota, Iowa, Wyoming, Texas, Michigan, South Dakota, and Colorado. 

Of the other four states, Ohio and North Carolina are beyond 60 days since detection. Kansas and New Mexico reached 60 days on June 16.

During the monthly Center for Dairy Excellence call on June 12, Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg said herd detections in other states have come primarily from “either sick cows or through epidemiologic tracing from positive farms.”

“It appears this is still a single bird to cow spillover that occurred in late 2023 and was not found until early 2024, so it spread out from there, and we’re now trying to catch up,” he said.

“Equipment, people, and cattle — that’s how this spreads. I can’t stress this strongly enough,” said Dr. Hamberg. Iowa is testing cattle close to positive poultry operations to provide data on species transfer risk.

Hamberg announced a Pennsylvania bulk tank monitoring program, supported by USDA. “This will be voluntary. The goal is to provide data of the status of the virus in Pennsylvania, or more likely the lack of it,” he said.

“We also need this data for quicker response time, and to protect nearby poultry farms. Even more important, is to provide a platform to engage concerned consumers and stakeholders to show we are addressing this proactively, that we are looking for it, that we have a plan, have it under control, and that pasteurized dairy products continue to be safe and wholesome,” he explained.

The status-enrollment period is three weeks, during which bulk tank and other samples will be taken. After three consecutive weeks of negative results, the dairy farm would achieve enrolled monitored herd status and continue weekly bulk tank samples thereafter to maintain that status.

An enrolled monitored herd with negative status would be able to move cattle without pre-movement testing, according to Dr. Hamberg.

“We are flying the plane while building it,” he said, noting early enrollment in the voluntary bulk tank testing program has already begun, so the testing can begin during the week ending June 21.

Those interested in enrolling can email RA-Ag_StateVet@pa.gov or call 717-307-3258. Or, to complete a web form for enrollment, go directly to this link 

The Center for Dairy Excellence has posted a downloadable enrollment form.

“We will then get back to you with an enrollment packet,” said Hamberg.

Hamberg said the May Exhibition Quarantine Order does not go into effect unless HPAI reaches dairies in Pennsylvania. However, effective now: Dairies within 3 kilometers (1.7 miles) of an HPAI-infected poultry flock cannot show dairy cows at fairs and shows. Currently, there are no active poultry infections in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Ernest Hovingh, director of the PADLS said testing is currently well under capacity and prepared to handle bulk tank monitoring.

For PADLS updates, visit http://padls.agriculture.pa.gov/InnerPages/HPAICattle.html

For details from the CDE call, to hear a recording, and see links to resources, visit https://www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/hpai-industry-call/

 -30-