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Federal and State Veterinary, Public

Health Agencies Share Update on

HPAI Detection in Kansas, Texas

Dairy Herds

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Wild migratory birds believed to be source of infection; viral testing and

epidemiologic efforts continue

Commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health

requirements and pasteurization

Press Release

Contact: aphispress@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an

illness among primarily older dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico that is

causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.

As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle

collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as an

oropharyngeal swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for highly

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Additional testing was initiated on Friday, March
22, and over the weekend because farms have also reported finding deceased wild

birds on their properties. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to

have been introduced by wild birds. Initial testing by the National Veterinary

Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more

transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public

remains low.

Federal and state agencies are moving quickly to conduct additional testing for HPAI,

as well as viral genome sequencing, so that we can better understand the situation,

including characterization of the HPAI strain or strains associated with these

detections.

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. Dairies are required to send

only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from

impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food

supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and

viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering

interstate commerce.

Federal agencies are also working with state and industry partners to encourage

farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so that we can monitor

potential additional cases and minimize the impact to farmers, consumers and other

animals. For the dairies whose herds are exhibiting symptoms, on average about ten

percent of each affected herd appears to be impacted, with little to no associated

mortality reported among the animals. Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to

date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact

on the price of milk or other dairy products.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and USDA and federal and state partners will

continue to share additional updates as soon as information becomes available.

More information on biosecurity measures can be found here.