The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed additional cases of H5N1 avian influenza in three dairy herds, with two in Colorado and one in Iowa. This brings the total number of affected herds to 129 across 12 states. Meanwhile, Iowa recently announced new testing mandates for dairy cattle participating in state exhibitions and fairs, effective July 1.
In announcing the testing requirement, Iowa’s agriculture secretary Mike Naig emphasized the need for USDA assistance for affected farms and expressed gratitude to Iowa farmers for their cooperation in testing and research efforts. The USDA has deployed additional epidemiological strike teams to assist in investigations on affected poultry and dairy farms.
APHIS also reported nine new H5N1 detections in mammals across four states. Among these, five domestic cats tested positive in Minnesota (Kandiyohi County) and Texas (Hartley County). Other detections included raccoons in Michigan and New Mexico, a striped skunk in New Mexico, and a red fox in Minnesota.
Furthermore, APHIS documented eight more detections of H5N1 in wild birds, including bald eagles in Iowa, New Jersey, and Virginia, as well as agency-harvested birds in New Mexico.
These developments underscore ongoing efforts to monitor and contain the spread of H5N1 avian influenza in various animal populations across the United States. Alongside these efforts, USDA acreage reports, USDA grain reports, USDA hay reports, USDA planting reports, and USDA market reports for goats continue to play crucial roles in assessing agricultural trends and market conditions nationwide.
Keywords: USDA APHIS, H5N1 avian influenza, dairy herds, Iowa state exhibitions, USDA support for farms, epidemiological strike teams, domestic cats, wild birds, bald eagles, raccoons, striped skunk, red fox, USDA acreage reports, USDA grain reports, USDA hay reports, USDA planting reports, USDA market reports goats
USDA Reports Increased H5N1 Cases in Dairy Herds and Cats
