By Jamie Martin
Avian flu continues to impact US livestock, with the USDA confirming 12 more H5N1 cases in dairy cattle from California. These new detections bring the state’s total to 697 cases and the national count to 912 across 16 states.
Outbreaks have been ongoing in California since late August, primarily in the Central Valley but recently spreading southward, leading to a state of emergency declaration.
Poultry farms in four states also face outbreaks, including Ohio’s Darke County, where a layer farm with 1 million birds reported a new case. Additional detections occurred on a broiler farm in California, a turkey farm in Michigan, and a backyard flock in Missouri.
To support virus containment, APHIS has updated biosecurity requirements for poultry farms seeking indemnity payments.
Farmers must now complete biosecurity audits before restocking or receiving future compensation. Since 2022, APHIS has distributed $1.1 billion in compensation, with reinfections on some farms highlighting ongoing challenges.
Arizona’s Maricopa County reported avian flu in wastewater samples, though no human cases have been detected. The H5 subtype found in Phoenix, Surprise, and Tempe suggests the virus originates from wild birds. Assistant Medical Director Nick Staab emphasized that “the overall risk of avian flu to people remains low.”
These efforts underline the importance of biosecurity and environmental monitoring to curb avian flu's spread while protecting livestock and human health.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-r-j-seymour
Categories: National