Avian flu: TN State Veterinarian orders movement restriction for dairy cattle
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Tennessee State Veterinarian has imposed movement restrictions on dairy cattle from affected states following confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
As of April 2, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the detection of HPAI in dairy herds in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico and Idaho.
The severity of the disease in animals led the Tennessee State Veterinarian to remind producers and cattle owners to practice strong biosecurity by limiting animal movements and isolating sick cattle.
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“Cattle impacted by HPAI may exhibit low appetite, flu-like symptoms, and thick and discolored milk accompanied by a sharp reduction in milk production,” the Tennessee State Veterinarian said in a statement. “No cattle have died from infection. Older cows may be more likely to be severely impacted than younger cows. If Tennessee dairy producers believe cattle within their herd are showing clinical signs of HPAI, they should report these signs immediately to their local veterinarian, to the State Veterinarian’s Office at 615-837-5120, or the USDA APHIS at 1-866-536-7593.”
The order of the Tennessee State Veterinarian will expire on May 3 unless it’s extended or rescinded.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, this is the first time HPAI has been found in U.S. dairy cattle.
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One Texas resident who works with livestock tested positive for the disease after being exposed to affected cattle, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in a statement. The agency said the individual’s illness is mild, and they are recovering. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which the CDC considers to be low.
The USDA said people shouldn’t be concerned about the safety of milk supply because products are pasteurized before they reach the commercial market space.
“Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption,” the USDA said. “Milk from impacted animals is being diverted from the commercial milk tank or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.”
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As far as the supply and pricing of dairy products is concerned, the USDA said the milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact.
“The U.S. typically has a more than sufficient milk supply in the spring months due to seasonally higher production,” the USDA said.
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