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Is avian flu a threat to U.S. dairy?

Michael Dykes

Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, contributes this column bimonthly for Cheese Market News®.

By now, you’ve read many stories about the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1, in dairy cows in the United States. The situation continues to change day by day. While much of the information in the public is accurate, some of it is confusing or even conflicting. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has been playing a central, coordinating role in the industry’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle. We rely on trusted resources and experts and encourage our members to gather information from the same trusted voices. Let me address a few critical questions.

• Is milk and dairy safe to consume?

Yes. The USDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA and state health authorities continue to affirm that the pasteurized milk and dairy foods in the commercial milk supply remain safe and there is no threat to human health. Pasteurization (high heat treatment) kills or inactivates harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including HPAI and other viruses. Scientists and virologists have remained clear on pasteurization’s effectiveness since the beginning of this outbreak. This week, the federal government began to release data demonstrating pasteurization’s effectiveness in destroying HPAI in milk.

Some have pointed to “viral fragments” present in the milk as a concern. However, the opposite is true — viral fragments are evidence that pasteurization is doing its job effectively by breaking HPAI into harmless bits. Moreover, the federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) prohibits milk from sick cows from entering the food supply chain. If milk from asymptomatic cows should enter a processing facility, pasteurization destroys it.

• Where is HPAI in dairy today?

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), there are 33 confirmed herds in eight states: Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas. There are 23,000 dairy herds in the United States.

• What is HPAI?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the avian influenza virus appears periodically all over the world, including in the United States. The virus spreads easily among wild, migratory aquatic birds, with waterfowl and shorebirds considered natural hosts (reservoirs). Certain virus strains including H5N1 can infect domesticated birds (including chickens, turkeys, ducks and pet birds), humans (rarely) and a variety of other mammals, both wild and domestic. APHIS has been tracking HPAI infections in mammals for many years via a public database at www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals.

• How is HPAI affecting dairy cattle?

In affected herds, less than 10% of the cows in the herd usually have clinical symptoms once becoming affected with HPAI. Dairy producers with affected cows report a rapid onset illness in herds, specifically among older, lactating cows. Clinical signs include:

• Decreased herd-level milk production;
• Acute sudden drop in production;
• Decrease in feed consumption; and
• Abnormal feces and some fever.

Older cows are more likely to be impacted than younger cows.

According to dairy farmers and veterinarians reporting on affected herds, most affected cows recover within seven to 10 days. Within a few weeks, most cows fully recover. APHIS has reported that when the HPAI virus is detected in a dairy cow, it is localized in the cow’s udder, primarily within the milk itself. That is why APHIS believes at this time that milk itself, as well as milking equipment, clothing and garments worn by dairy workers — such as gloves, coveralls, etc. — are the most likely source of transmission in dairy herds.

Reporting sick cows or cows suspected of having HPAI is essential, according to APHIS, AVMA and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

• Is HPAI fatal in cows?

No. Mortality rates for this disease in the United States are well below 1%. Cows recover, and neither veterinarian groups nor the federal government recommend culling as a solution or management tactic.
• Is raw milk or raw milk cheese safe?

FDA strongly advises against consuming raw milk, regardless of an HPAI outbreak. Raw milk is a key vehicle in the transmission of human pathogens, and FDA strongly recommends that all raw milk and raw milk components be heat treated to a temperature and duration that kills harmful pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms, including HPAI and other viruses, regardless of the product’s intended use for human or animal consumption. FDA goes further to advise against using milk from a farm with an affected cow or herd in the making of raw milk cheeses. The FDA does not discriminate on the size of the herd or farm in making this strong recommendation until more research is done on raw milk cheeses.

• How is the market reacting?

There appears to be no widespread impacts on dairy production. While volumes drop in infected herds, which is an economic challenge for individual farmers, it’s not making an impact on the national dairy market at this time. There are no current impacts to pricing at wholesale or retail levels. No countries have imposed restrictions on U.S. dairy exports. Dairy exports are picking up the pace after a slow start to 2024.

• What can we do?

The dairy industry must practice advanced biosecurity protocols beginning on the farm and throughout the supply chain where the handling of dairy cows and/or raw milk is concerned. USDA recently imposed testing, tracking and reporting requirements for lactating dairy cattle moving interstate. According to CDC recommendations, when working with raw milk, employees should wear personal protective equipment and perform thorough hand washing after contact with raw milk. Avoiding cross-contamination of raw milk into clean spaces or premises is of utmost importance. IDFA will continue to collaborate with federal, state and industry partners to mitigate the impacts of HPAI on our industry. Visit www.idfa.org/hpai to learn more.

CMN

The views expressed by CMN’s guest columnists are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheese Market News®.

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