The spread of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to lactating dairy cows might impact the ability to show cattle this summer at fairs.
Dr. Katie Cornille with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health says there might be additional precautions taken this year, but no decision has been made. “We also want to be mindful of the county fair season, and in the next week or so, we’ll be able to issue more specific guidance on that for any lactating dairy animals that may be going to an exhibition event like a county fair.”
Lisa Behnke with World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, stated that they are closely monitoring the H5N1 situation and will relay directives and new information to exhibitors and attendees as it is provided by USDA, the state, and the veterinary community. “We will be working with, again, the veterinary community and our regulators to make sure that World Dairy Expo upholds any recommendations they have that will ensure the safety and viability of our U.S. dairy herd. That is our utmost concern.”
Behnke says World Dairy Expo has until September to finalize show guidelines, but many local fairs begin in the next few weeks and they don’t have much time to prepare.
Michigan has already banned showing lactating cattle, and cattle in the last two months of pregnancy in an effort to prevent spreading H5N1.
Minnesota and Iowa confirmed their first H5N1 dairy outbreaks recently. Iowa reported a second dairy herd case as well. Eighty-five herds in eleven states have been affected by the virus, including herds in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and North Carolina.
In a recent letter, the FDA recommended that state, local, and tribal health officials “use regulatory authorities or implement other measures, as appropriate, to stop the sale of milk that may present a risk to consumers. This could include restricting the introduction of raw milk that may contain viable HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] H5N1 for human or animal consumption within a defined geographic region or within your state.”
“Because raw milk has the potential to contain viable (live) HPAI H5N1 virus, it represents a potential route of consumer exposure to the virus,” said the FDA letter. However, there is only limited research on whether the virus can be transmitted through the consumption of raw milk and dairy products made from raw milk.
Tests have confirmed that pasteurization kills the H5N1 virus in milk. The FDA bans the interstate sale of raw milk and dairy products.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Here is this week’s bird flu update! It is the gift that keeps on giving. Many unexpected sidebar elements to the H5N1 outbreak. Now it may impact children hoping to show their prize dairy animal at the local fair. Many of these young people prepare and look forward to participating in the local and state fair all year long. Plus, non-pasteurized milk, a rapidly growing consumer market, is being closed because of the bird flu virus. The researchers and regulators are doing their best, but the virus seems to always be one step ahead. We continue to be optimistic and hope the spread to humans in limited and non-life threatening. We will continue to keep you posted. In the meantime, be sure to continue reaching out to farmers/ranchers with your messaging and listing inventory on AgTruckTrader.com®.
