Various dairy farms in the states of Texas, Kansas and New Mexico have for some time struggled with inexplicably sick cows that tend to eat less and produce poor milk. Animals show flu-like symptoms, fever and produce thick, discolored milk. Bird flu virus has now been detected in milk samples from sick cows on two farms in Kansas and one in Texas.

Migratory birds

The virus may have been introduced by migratory wild birds. Dead migratory birds have also been found on farms. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the first preliminary studies from veterinary laboratories indicate that the AI ​​virus has not yet evolved to the point where it is easily transmissible to humans. Federal and state agencies are now rapidly conducting more tests on the virus to determine what strain it is.

According to the USDA, there is still no risk to public health. While dairies can only process milk from healthy animals for human consumption, milk from AI-infected animals is destroyed or diverted. In addition, the ministry said that pasteurization is sufficient to kill viruses and bacteria.

Report sick animals

Farmers and veterinarians are invited to report sick cows so that new cases are detected quickly.

On farms with a high prevalence of avian influenza in cattle, approximately 10 percent of animals show clinical signs, with fewer or no deaths reported. Older cows are especially susceptible. According to the USDA, milk loss is currently very low. There is no question of killing bird flu in poultry farms. Experts expect the cows to eventually make a full recovery.

A few days ago, bird flu was detected in a goat farm in the state of Minnesota, the first case of AI in a livestock farm.