At the recent State Board of Animal Health meeting, the board issued an order requiring lactating dairy cattle to be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) within 10 days prior to being at the North Dakota State Fair. The board also strongly recommended that other fairs require testing as well.
“Several states continue to have detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Although North Dakota has not had any detections yet, we want the State Fair to be enjoyable but also provide and assure the highest level of safety for the animals and the public.”