Glacier FarmMedia – Cows at three dairy farms in California tested positive for H5N1 avian flu at the end of August, marking an expansion of the virus into the largest dairy-producing region of the United States, the state’s agriculture department has announced.
More than 190 herds have been infected across the U.S. since March, along with 13 dairy and poultry farm workers, according to federal data.
No human cases were confirmed in California, and the virus remains a low risk to the general public.
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Efforts to prevent the spread of the virus were being seen at state fairs around the U.S., including the use of fake cows for milking demonstrations, increased testing, quarantines and cancellations of events in some states, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Philippines lifted its ban on importing domesticated and wild birds, including poultry products, from California and South Dakota, Manila’s farm ministry said Aug. 31.
The Philippines imposed the temporary ban on California in January and on South Dakota in November last year after confirmed outbreaks of the H5N1 subtype of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has killed millions of infected birds and poultry.
In Canada, there have yet to be any confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy cattle with the last outbreak in a commercial poultry flock coming six months ago.
However, cases in wild birds continue to be found.
In its Sept. 4 report, the World Organization for Animal Health revealed cases of bird flu in wild birds in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario.
Only one primary control zone for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains active in Canada. That zone involves a premises in Meadow Lake, Sask., where the presence of HPAI was found in a backyard poultry flock on Nov. 15, 2023.
