Dairy farms in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico reported an illness in their cows. Affected cows presented decreased milk production and decreased feed consumption.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control are investigating these cases.
This week, USDA announced that tests collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and two dairy farms in Texas have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Wisconsin State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle has the update.
Health officials say: “There is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health.”
At this time, Wisconsin has not made any changes to import requirements for cattle from Texas, Kansas, or New Mexico in response to these cases.
If producers notice unusual clinical signs in their cattle, they are encouraged to work with their herd veterinarian. To report herds with unexplained symptoms, veterinarians should contact DATCP at (608) 224-4872 (business hours) or (800) 943-0003 (after hours and weekends).
