Ag Daily This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in Wisconsin.
Detections of avian influenza in dairy cattle have been limited this year, in contrast to 2024, when an outbreak that began in March spread nationwide and led to infected herds being reported in 18 states.
“This detection does not pose a risk to consumer health or affect the safety of the commercial milk supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is confident that pasteurization is effective at inactivating HPAI virus, and that the commercial, pasteurized milk supply is safe,” APHIS said in a news release.
Samples from the herd were tested initially by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the positive findings confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. DATCP said it is responding in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other state and federal partners.