USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order aimed at protecting the U.S. livestock industry from the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. The order mandates measures such as mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and reporting of positive test results in livestock to USDA APHIS.
"Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better understand this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread," said USDA in a statement.
The USDA highlighted the importance of biosecurity measures in limiting disease spread among livestock and poultry. The agency reassured the public that there have been no significant changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans.
According to USDA, affected cows have shown signs of recovery with little to no associated mortality. The agency continues to collaborate with state and industry partners to emphasize the critical role of biosecurity in preventing disease transmission.
In an effort to enhance research on H5N1 in dairy cattle, APHIS made genetic sequences available to researchers and urged dairy cattle producers to share epidemiological information from affected farms. The agency also encouraged producer participation in public health assessments to monitor any potential changes in the virus that could impact transmissibility.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also provided an update on efforts to ensure the safety of the commercial milk supply. Both FDA and USDA believe that the milk supply is safe due to the pasteurization process and measures taken to divert or destroy milk from sick cows.
USDA reiterated its commitment to working closely with federal partners at the CDC and FDA to address the situation with urgency. For more information on USDA's response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.
