As of April 25, the USDA confirmed the presence of the Highly Pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at 33 dairy cattle facilities in eight states, including New Mexico. One person so far has contracted the virus.
Last week, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department to expand a federal program to allow cattle producers to receive resources needed to stop the spread of the avian flu.
The H5N1 avian influenza is still a threat to animals and humans, and the USDA says the milk supply is currently safe. Officials say the current risk to human health is low, however, the federal government is being urged to stem future pandemics.
“The current H5N1 outbreak in cattle poses a particular challenge to small producers who manage diverse livestock operations. It is imperative that these producers possess the financial means to effectively quarantine affected livestock and undertake a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. These steps are crucial to halt viral spread to other animals, such as swine, and ultimately safeguard human health, but they are not without cost and risk,” wrote Luján. “I urge the USDA to make available incentives for dairy cattle producers to enhance their readiness and capabilities in mitigating the spread of viruses with pandemic potential, similar to the approach USDA takes with poultry producers.”
Lujan specifically asked that the USDA expand the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Producer Indemnity and Compensation program, which focuses on eradicating and controlling foreign animal diseases, emerging diseases, and program diseases, to include dairy cattle and other mammals affected by avian influenza.
On April 29, the USDA issued new mandates aimed at limiting the spread of the H5N1 virus recently discovered in some dairy cattle, including in New Mexico.
Some of the new requirements include:
Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle
- Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory:
- Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing;
- Dairy cattle moving between states must meet condition criteria specified by the USDA.
For complete interstate movement requirements, visit the APHIS website.
Mandatory Reporting
- Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to APHIS:
- Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positing Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to APHIS.
Samples submitted to an approved NAHLN laboratory are typically returned in one to three days. APHIS will cover the cost of mandatory testing at all NAHLN laboratories.
USDA has also confirmed that the same HPAI virus genotype detected in dairy cattle has also been found at eight poultry facilities in five states, including in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture, the New Mexico Livestock Board, and the New Mexico Department of Health – activated the New Mexico Agriculture and Livestock Incident Response Team in March.