Bird flu detected in Oklahoma dairy herd, highlighting larger US outbreak – The Times of India

The US Department of Agriculture has verified that Oklahoma is now the 13th state in the country to identify bird flu in dairy cows, although the state has indicated that the infection occurred several months ago. This confirmation reveals that the outbreak was more extensive than initially believed by US authorities after the virus was first discovered in dairy cattle in late March. Since then, bird flu has been found in over 150 dairy herds across the nation, according to a report from Reuters. These cases are linked to a widespread outbreak of H5N1 bird flu that has been spreading globally in wild birds, infecting poultry and various species of mammals. Despite four dairy workers testing positive this year, the US centers for disease control and prevention has said that the risk to the general public remains low. According to Lee Benson, spokesperson for the Oklahoma department of agriculture, food and foresty, an Oklahoma dairy collected the positive sample in April when it suspected its herd may have been infected. The dairy recently sent stored samples to USDA for testing after learning it could receive financial assistance for lost milk production due to bird flu. USDA has initiated a program to compensate farmers with sick cows for 90% of lost milk production per cow to encourage farmers to test herds and report infections. USDA's website reports two positive herds in Oklahoma, but Benson clarified that the confirmed positive sample is from one Oklahoma dairy with two separate barns. The state's agriculture department believes USDA received the dairy's samples in the first week of July, and the herd has fully recovered. Oklahoma has not received reports of other possible infections. To address the situation, Oklahoma has provided protective gear to dairy farmers and requested dairies to enhance safety and security measures, according to state veterinarian Rod Hall. However, there is no mandatory testing of cows in Oklahoma, as per the state agriculture department. In related news, Colorado has reported four confirmed bird flu infections in poultry workers and is investigating a fifth suspected case, according to health authorities on Sunday.

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Bird flu detected in Oklahoma dairy herd, highlighting larger US outbreak - The Times of India