H5N1 Outbreaks in California Dairy Cattle Top 500 as Virus Strikes More Poultry in 3 States

By Lisa Schnirring

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed 11 more H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in dairy cattle, all in California. The new confirmations push the state's total to 504 and the national total to 718 in 15 states.

California is the country's largest dairy producer, with roughly 1,300 commercial herds. The outbreaks began in late August and have now affected almost 40% of the state's dairy herds.

Poultry outbreaks

Also, APHIS confirmed more avian flu outbreaks in poultry in three states. In California—hit hard by outbreaks in both cattle and poultry—the virus struck a commercial turkey farm housing more than 61,000 birds in Sacramento County. New outbreaks were also confirmed at two commercial farms in Stanislaus County: a turkey producer and a layer facility. 

Outbreaks were also reported in backyard poultry flocks in California's Riverside County, Kansas's Douglas County, and Utah's Utah County.