Avian Flu spreads in US livestock

New cases in dairy cattle and poultry flocks

Avian flu outbreaks in the US are rising, with California reporting 12 more cases in dairy cattle. The state now totals 697 cases, contributing to a national count of 912 across 16 states. 

Most cases are concentrated in California’s Central Valley, though recent detections in the south led to a state of emergency to enhance containment efforts.

Poultry outbreaks also persist, affecting farms in Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, and California. Ohio reported its second outbreak this month on a large layer farm with 1 million birds.

Michigan’s Ottawa County saw another turkey farm infected, while backyard flocks in Missouri added to the tally.

The USDA’s APHIS has introduced stricter biosecurity measures, requiring audits before indemnity payments for poultry farmers. These steps aim to reduce reinfections, which have led to over $365 million in compensation from a total of $1.1 billion since 2022.

Arizona’s Maricopa County added a new dimension to monitoring by detecting avian flu in wastewater from Phoenix, Surprise, and Tempe.

Though no human cases were reported, authorities identified wild birds as the likely source. As Assistant Medical Director Nick Staab stated, “the overall risk of avian flu to people remains low.”

With increased surveillance and biosecurity updates, these measures strive to mitigate the spread of avian flu while ensuring safety for both livestock and humans.