US government will require more testing, tracking of bird flu in dairy cows

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will be implementing a federal order to enhance testing and reporting of H5N1 influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in dairy cows. Previously, the USDA required reporting of bird flu in poultry and wild birds, but there was no obligation for producers to report if cows tested positive. This lack of information hindered the investigation into the current outbreak in cattle. With confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy cows in Texas and Kansas, 33 farms across eight states have identified cases. The new order aims to gather more information about the growing outbreak. Under the order, dairy cattle moving between states must be tested for avian flu or any type of influenza A before they can travel. The order does not currently apply to cattle raised for beef. However, the USDA may extend the order to beef cattle as it gathers more knowledge about the spread of the virus. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is currently a low public health risk as the virus has not been shown to spread from person to person.