The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has received a presumptive positive test result of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in an Ohio dairy cattle herd and is awaiting confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL).
A dairy operation in Wood County received cows on March 8, 2024, from a Texas dairy, which later reported a confirmed detection of HPAI. Ohio’s animal health officials were notified when the livestock began showing clinical signs compatible with sick, lactating dairy cows in other states.
USDA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, continue to investigate the emerging illness among dairy cows that is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms.
USDA has confirmed the detection of HPAI in dairy herds in Texas (7) Kansas (2), Michigan (1), New Mexico (1), and as of yesterday, Idaho (1).
According to the FDA and CDC, there is no concern about the safety of commercially pasteurized dairy products, and the public health risk associated with HPAI remains low.
ODA is working with state industry partners and federal agencies to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly, to monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact and risk to farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and other animals.
Dairy farmers are urged to work with their veterinarian to practice enhanced biosecurity measures and review and limit cattle movements within production systems to avoid disease spread or bringing in cattle from known disease areas or infected herds. Resources on biosecurity measures are available from the National FARM Program.
Additional biosecurity information – in both English and Spanish – and a Frequently Asked Questions document are available at USDA’s website.
At this current time, no quarantines or movement restrictions on livestock are being issued by ODA. As officials continue to assess the risks of the emerging disease, and assess epidemiological information, further regulatory control actions may be implemented. If dairy producers in Ohio should see unusual clinical symptoms similar to those described, they are to contact their herd veterinarians.
Your national and local dairy associations will continue to work across the industry with key stakeholders and share updates as they become available. Please contact Jenny Crabtree at 614-890-1800 with any questions.
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