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High Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Cattle

• HPAI Detections in Livestock
• HPAI in Dairy Cows: FAQ
• Milk Safety and Supply during HPAI Outbreaks: FAQ
• Testing Requirements and Guidance for H5N1

Guidance for Dairy Cattle Producers during H5N1 Outbreak

Effective April 29, 2024, all lactating dairy cattle are required to test negative for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) prior to interstate movement, per the Federal Order from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Nonlactating dairy cattle, including heifers, dry cows and bull calves, are not currently subject to testing for interstate movement due to their risk profile.

Any positive detections of Influenza A must be reported to the NDA State Veterinarian at diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov and APHIS at HPAI.Results@usda.gov.

As of April 26, 2024, detections of H5N1 in dairy cattle have not been reported in Nevada. This is an evolving situation, and requirements are subject to change with minimal notice. Please continue to monitor your email and the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) for up-to-date information.

Travel

Dairy cattle traveling into Nevada
The NDA has updated entry requirements in compliance with the USDA Federal Order. A negative test result for Influenza A virus from an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) lab is required and must be documented on a Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection (CVI) for all lactating dairy cattle within seven (7) days prior to movement. Dairy producers should work with their veterinarian to arrange for testing prior to transport. Samples for testing must be collected by an accredited veterinarian. Nonlactating dairy cattle are not currently required to be tested for interstate movement.

Nevada dairy cattle traveling out of state
Per the USDA Federal Order, a negative test for Influenza A virus from an approved NAHLN lab is required for interstate travel for all lactating dairy cattle within seven (7) days prior to movement. Dairy producers should reference the updated entry guidelines for the state to which they are traveling and work with their veterinarian to arrange for testing prior to transport. Samples for testing must be collected by an accredited veterinarian.

Cattle traveling direct to slaughter from the owner do not require testing.

Recommendations for sale barns
Per the USDA Federal Order, the USDA requires a negative test for Influenza A virus from an approved NAHLN lab for interstate travel of all lactating dairy cattle. Dairy producers should work with their veterinarian to arrange for testing prior to transport.
Culled dairy cows consigned to a sale barn in Nevada for eventual processing out of state must also test negative for H5N1 within 7 days prior to sale or movement out of state. Cattle traveling direct to slaughter from the owner do not require testing.

Testing

Per the Federal Order, lactating dairy cows must be tested for H5N1 prior to movement. If fewer than 30 cattle are moving, all cattle must be tested. If more than 30 are moving, then only 30 animals must be tested. Samples must be collected by an accredited veterinarian and submitted to a NAHLN Laboratory. Any positive detections of Influenza A must be reported to the NDA State Veterinarian at diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov and APHIS at HPAI.Results@usda.gov. More information on testing is available from USDA.

Veterinary collection instructions
Collect milk/udder secretions from individual cows. Ensure each quarter is sampled, as there have been reports of only one quarter having virus. Combine the milk from each quarter into one sample for submission to the laboratory. Submit between 3-10 ml of milk per animal.
Note: NAHLN Laboratories may pool milk samples from up to 5 cows together; this can only be done in the laboratory.

Samples can be dropped off at the NDA Animal Disease Lab in Sparks, Nev. for transfer to, or can be sent directly to one of the following NALHN Labs:

• Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab (WADDL)

1940 SE Olympia Ave

Pullman, WA 99164

Phone: (509) 335-9696

• CAHFS Davis - University of California, Davis

620 W. Health Sciences Drive

Davis, CA 95616

Phone: (530) 752-8700

• Utah Veterinary Diagnostics Lab (UVDL)

950 East 1400 North

Logan, UT 84341

Phone: (435) 797-1895

Voluntary testing
In addition to mandatory testing for interstate movement, producers and veterinarians may choose to conduct additional testing to manage HPAI suspect or affected herds to better protect their herds.

Costs
If testing is performed at NAHLN laboratories, APHIS will support the testing costs provided they obtain a FAD number (for sick cattle) or include a premises ID and follow the testing guidance below. APHIS will reimburse for Influenza A testing at NAHLN laboratories associated with this event for the following submission reasons:

• Suspect cattle
• Apparently healthy cattle that have been exposed to or epidemiologically linked to suspect or confirmed positive HPAI cattle
• Cattle from producers concerned their cattle may have HPAI
• Sick or dead domestic animals near affected premises
• Wildlife (reason for submission must indicate emerging event)
• Monitoring of healthy cattle via bulk tank samples

Costs for sample collection and shipping will not be covered.

Suspected cases

Contact your local veterinarian at the first sign of illness. Suspected cases should be reported to the NDA State Veterinarian at diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov.

Signs of illness

• Drop in feed intake
• Marked drop in herd-level milk production
• Thickened milk
• No milk
• Respiratory signs
• Nasal discharge

Detections

Any positive detections of Influenza A must be reported to the NDA State Veterinarian at diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov and USDA APHIS at HPAI.Results@usda.gov.

As of April 26, 2024, detections of H5N1 in dairy cattle have not been reported in Nevada.

Biosecurity

Good health safety practices are important to protecting the herd health.

• Monitor for Sick Animals: Producers should monitor herds closely for cattle with clinical signs of disease.
• Movement of Cattle: Movement of cattle should be minimized; movement of cattle should be focused on preventing movement of disease.
• Vehicles, Equipment, and People on the Farm: Producers should limit the movement of vehicles and visitors on and off livestock and poultry premises and establish dedicated routes for vehicles that do come onto the premises.
• Wildlife Management: Producers should monitor and report any odd behaviors and die offs in domestic and wild animals immediately.
• Worker safety: Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended for personals working with or around cattle or materials potentially contaminated with H5N1. Avoid rubbing eyes, eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum, and other such activities in and around areas with cattle. Wash hand regularly.

The most up-to-date information on the H5N1 outbreak is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.

For additional questions, please contact diseasereporting@agri.nv.gov.

• USDA Equine Studies

• USDA Goat Studies

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Avian influenzais a disease caused by viruses that can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds. Avian influenza is further categorized based on the ability of the virus to produce disease in domestic poultry:

• Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to poultry, and can spread rapidly. HPAI can circulate freely in wild birds without sign of illness and infect domestic poultry causing severe and fatal illness. Some species of wild birds, such as raptors, also experience high mortality rates.
• Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus strains occur naturally in wild migratory waterfowl and shorebirds without causing illness. LPAI can infect domestic poultry, creating little or no signs of illness.

HPAI detections

The current HPAI strain has been detected in both wild birds and commercial and backyard flocks in the U.S. As of April 21, 2022, HPAI has not been detected in Nevada, however detections have been made in neighboring states of Idaho and Utah.

Any birds found to be sick should be immediately quarantined and reported to the USDA at (866) 536-7593 or the NDA by emailing NDA State Veterinarian at pmundschenk@agri.nv.gov.

Three or more wild bird mortalities should be reported to the Nevada Department of Wildlife at (775) 688-1500 or nate.lahue@ndow.org.

Biosecurity recommendations

• Wash hands before and after coming in contact with birds.
• Limit the number of people that come into contact with your flock to those necessary for their care.
• Use personal protective equipment such as shoe covers, gloves, hair and clothing covers.
• Clean and disinfect equipment before and after each use.
• Do not share tools or supplies between flocks.
• Flocks should be housed in enclosures that prevent any exposure to wild birds or waterfowl, such as barns or similar covered, secure areas.
• Avoid attracting wild birds and waterfowl by securing feed and not using wild bird feeders on or near the premises.
• Quarantine new birds or birds returning to the flock for 30 days before (re)introduction.
• Quarantine sick birds immediately and report to the USDA at (866) 536-7593 or the NDA State Veterinarian at pmundschenk@agri.nv.gov.

Read more about biosecurity practices to protect against HPAI at USDA Defend the Flock.

Human health and safety

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these avian influenza detections do not present an immediate public health concern. As of April 21, 2022, no human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S.

Consumers are still encouraged to practice proper food safety handling, including washing hands before and after handling poultry or eggs, and cooking them to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F to kill bacteria and viruses.

• USDA Sheep Studies

• USDA Swine Studies