The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in an Oklahoma dairy herd.
The positive sample was collected by the dairy in April and recently submitted to USDA APHIS for testing. The dairy herd has fully recovered, and the farm has not reported any other cases of HPAI.
Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays talked on Saturday with Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall about the positive case- which happened four months before it was confirmed by USDA. Listen to Dr. Hall’s comments below:
According to Dr. Hall, the dairy farm apparently suspected they had the disease back in the spring- which caused at least one cow to go off feed and have decreased milk production- the farm did bank some samples from one of their cows and when it became apparent that USDA would reimburse dairies with confirmed cases for lost milk production- they then submitted the samples from April and USDA tested them and a positive test result was then announced on July 12, 2024.
There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. The commercial milk supply remains safe due to both federal animal health requirements and pasteurization.
Oklahoma is the 13th state to have a confirmed positive case of HPAI in a dairy herd. Earlier in the year- Texas, Kansas and New Mexico Dairy herds have reported positive cases. Click here for More details from USDA on the spread of HPAI among dairy animals across the US. Click here for the USDA map of the total situational update.
Dr. Hall tells Hays that it appears that only one crossover infection from a wild bird to a dairy animal has been documented. Since that initial infection- all other movement by this HPAI virus has been dairy animal to dairy animal or infected trucks or other equipment to a dairy animal. It has proven to be easily transmissible and contagious since it has spread to 13 states in at least 153 herds in those states.
“We have been monitoring detections of HPAI in other states since the first detection in March,” said Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall. “Our team has been in constant communication with Oklahoma dairies asking them to heighten their biosecurity practices. PPE has also been made available to Oklahoma dairy farmers.”
Some clinical signs of HPAI in dairy cattle are:
- A drop in rumination
- A decline in feed intake
- A decrease in milk yield
- Thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Fever
If dairy farmers suspect cases of HPAI, please call ODAFF at 405-522-6141.
For more information on HPAI in dairy cattle, including recommended biosecurity measures, please visit the ODAFF Disease Alerts page.
