Reports of an H5N1 bird flu outbreak in California dairy herds continue to rise as the nation’s largest dairy producer scrambles to contain the spread.
On Monday, officials reported that the number of infected dairy herds in the Central Valley doubled over the weekend, from 17 to 34.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Food and Agriculture said they expect more cases to be announced in the coming days and weeks, as testing continues.
With about 1,100 dairy herds in California — and 90% located in the San Joaquin Valley — the concern is palpable, industry insiders say. Disease outbreaks disrupt milk production in affected dairy farms. Not only are infected herds not isolated, but special inspections should also be carried out on nearby dairy farms.
“Farmers are really worried about this virus and they don’t see it being controlled,” said Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, a trade association for California dairy farmers. He added that the industry hopes to develop a vaccine for cattle that will “protect our animals” and comply with trade agreements.
The threat to humans is considered low. However, infectious disease experts worry that the longer the virus persists in dairy farms, the more likely it is to mix with the human virus and pose a serious threat to humans.
Both federal and state health officials say milk is safe to drink, as long as it is pasteurized.
Steve Lyle, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, said that the agency’s call to inspect dairy farms within six kilometers of infected herds, as well as dairy products that share workers or equipment with infected dairy herds, allowed officials to find infected dairy farms “at that time.” before they show clinical signs — during their incubation period.”
The US Department of Agriculture is working on a bird flu vaccine, but noted in a statement that this does not mean that efforts to control the virus have failed.
“The pursuit of cattle vaccine development does not mean that biosecurity measures have failed,” the agency said in a prepared statement. “And it doesn’t mean that the USDA believes that this virus will last. The development of a vaccine is part of a comprehensive strategy that includes improved and strengthened biosecurity efforts to contain the virus and help reduce its spread.”
The statement went on to say that the vaccine could be helpful in eradicating the virus from the nation’s dairy cattle, but it is only one tool.
“We continue to put in place all available efforts, including biosecurity and mandatory testing of dairy cows traveling across state lines,” the statement said.
It’s still unclear how the virus entered the state, but genetic sequencing suggests the virus is similar to that found in infected cattle in other states – and that it did not come from wild birds.
It is also unclear what impact the disease will have on milk production in the state, although Raudabaugh said it will not affect milk prices.
“Dairy is a ‘loss leader’ in the grocery store,” he said, and it’s often a big incentive for other things in the store.
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