Bird flu found for first time in Iowa dairy cow herd – The Gazette

Over 80 such cases have been reported in 9 other states

Bird flu has been detected in dairy cow herds in nine other states, but now the virus has been found in a Northwestern Iowa dairy herd, agriculture officials announced Wednesday.

While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported over 80 cases in dairy herds in South Dakota, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico and Colorado, this is the first case of it affecting cattle reported in Iowa.

The dairy herd where it was found is located in OBrien County, northeast of Sioux City. Tests to confirm the virus are being conducted at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames.

Given the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa, said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig in a statement. While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry.

Our team at the Department has been preparing for this possibility and will soon be announcing additional response steps to protect our flocks and herds, Naig said. Poultry producers and dairy farmers should immediately take steps to harden their biosecurity defenses, limit unnecessary visitors, and report symptomatic birds or cattle to the Department. This remains an evolving situation and we will continue to be in close communication with stakeholders, USDA, and other states as we evaluate our response. Our top priority is to protect our livestock and the farmers and people who care for them.

So far this year, the virus has been found in two Iowa poultry flocks leading to 4.2 million laying chickens being euthanized in Sioux County and 103,000 turkeys euthanized in Cherokee County.

While entire poultry flocks are killed to slow the spread of the disease, dairy cows seem to recover in about two weeks.

Iowa ag officials said that testing determined the virus found in the Sioux County chickens is consistent with the variant identified in affected dairy herds in other states. Testing is not yet complete on the virus detected in the Cherokee County turkeys.

Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to try to determine how the virus was introduced into the flocks and herd, the department said in a news release.

In addition to the virus being found in dairy herds, three farmworkers also have become infected two in Michigan and one in Texas. They all were responding to treatment.

Officials said dairy farmers who suspect their herds have been infected to contact a veterinarian immediately and report the possible case to the Iowa Department of Agriculture.

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Bird flu found for first time in Iowa dairy cow herd - The Gazette