Glacier FarmMedia – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu on Dec. 18, after a patient from Louisiana was hospitalized with severe respiratory illness. The CDC said partial viral genome data from the patient discovered the virus was part of the D1.1 genotype, the […] Read more
Tag Archives avian flu
U.S. plans to begin bulk milk testing for avian flu virus
Industry, veterinary groups pushed for stronger surveillance after virus infected more than 400 dairy herds, 36 people
REUTERS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing bulk raw milk across the country for avian flu, a significant expansion of the department’s efforts to stifle the rapid spread of the virus, agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack said. The move comes after livestock and veterinary groups pushed the USDA to strengthen its current […] Read more
U.S. detects avian flu in a pig for the first time
Pigs are a particular concern because they can become co-infected with bird and human viruses and create a new virus
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — H5N1 avian flu was confirmed in a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon, the first detection of the virus in hogs in the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said late last month. Pigs represent a particular concern for the spread of bird flu because they can become co-infected with […] Read more
Avian flu is back
As migratory birds wing their way south, they’re leaving cases of bird flu in their wake across the country. The problem is especially acute in British Columbia, where producers, industry groups and governments are trying to keep the seasonal problem from worsening. Eight premises are currently infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in […] Read more
Sask. farm among those infected with HPAI
Glacier FarmMedia – As migratory birds wing their way south, some of them leave cases of bird flu in their wake, especially in British Columbia, where producers, industry groups and governments are trying to keep the seasonal problem from worsening. There are 10 premises infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in B.C. and […] Read more
U.S. farmers call for vaccines to fight avian flu
Producers want to vaccinate poultry and cows as wildfowl migration begins, but the move would have trade implications
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) — U.S. farmers are increasing pressure on president Joe Biden’s administration to allow vaccinations for chickens, turkeys and cows to protect them from avian flu infections that have devastated flocks for three years. This autumn, flocks in the US$67 billion poultry industry for the first time face a double risk for infections from […] Read more
U.S. finds non-animal exposure bird flu
Glacier FarmMedia – Missouri’s department of health and senior services says a person hospitalized with bird flu was the first human case detected in the United States without known animal exposure. The person, who also had underlying medical conditions, was sent to hospital on Aug. 22 and later tested positive with the H5 avian influenza […] Read more
Avian flu spreads to Calif. dairy cows
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 […] Read more
Avian flu in cows and poultry continues to fly high in the U.S.
Few states or nations put on a dairy cattle show like the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, where 50,000 visitors and vendors from nearly 100 countries will see 1,800 owners exhibiting 2,500 or so of the best dairy cattle in the galaxy. Organizers of this year’s Expo, however, are working overtime to keep one […] Read more
U.S. farmers’ testing refusal skews bird flu count
Dairy producers fear economic losses from positive tests, but health officials call testing key to limiting human spread
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) — The U.S. avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle is much larger than official figures suggest due to farmers’ reluctance to test their animals and risk the economic consequences of a positive result, according to interviews with dairy experts, veterinarians and farmers in six states with known cases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
