The U.S. Division of Agriculture launched two experiences Thursday that lay out what has been realized about how H5N1 chicken flu is transferring amongst dairy cow herds in the USA.
The experiences don’t shed a lot new gentle on the state of affairs. As an alternative, they sum up what is thought: that the outbreak was in all probability the results of a single “spillover” of the virus from wild birds right into a dairy herd, possible late final yr, and that motion of cows, farmworkers, and shared tools seems to be liable for the unfold.
However the experiences comprise some numbers that recommend it will likely be difficult for the dairy business to have the ability to halt the unfold of H5N1 in cows.
One of the new reports was primarily based on a voluntary survey of affected herds performed by the USDA; the report stated about 54% of affected farms took half. The second was an in-depth have a look at the outbreak in Michigan, which has had essentially the most success in getting farms to conform to bear testing of their animals. It was performed when Michigan had reported H5N1 in 15 dairy herds and eight poultry flocks. It has since confirmed one other 10 contaminated herds.
Listed here are among the numbers from the 2 experiences that caught our consideration:
60: The primary USDA report indicated that 60% of farms that accomplished its survey acknowledged transferring animals off the farm after a few of their cows began exhibiting medical indicators of sickness. The USDA requires testing of a portion of animals being moved throughout state traces, however no such rule exists for intra-state motion.
9: 9 of 15 affected farms in Michigan have been “closed herds,” which meant they didn’t herald cattle from different places. Meaning the introduction of contaminated animals from elsewhere can’t clarify how the virus ended up in these herds.
100: Just about all the farms in Michigan reported having exterior people come to their farms, most of whom had contact with the animals. They have been particularly referencing veterinarians, cattle diet and feed consultants, hoof trimmers, and the like. For the nationwide survey, that quantity was better than 60%.
50: Half of farms acknowledged utilizing vehicles and trailers to maneuver livestock inside a month of noticing affected cattle on their premises. Half of the shared autos weren’t cleaned between cattle shipments.
30: Greater than 30% of workers at affected dairies additionally work at one other farm with livestock, most of which had dairy cattle.
11: Of the 96 affected herds, the USDA stated Thursday that operators of solely 11 have utilized for funds the division has made accessible to assist farmers cowl the prices of elevated testing, improved biosecurity, and different containment measures.
?: Throughout a briefing Thursday for journalists in regards to the experiences, STAT requested the USDA twice what number of farms which have had optimistic cattle are nonetheless coping with the virus. In spite of everything, among the affected herds examined optimistic in late March. Mark Lyons, who’s USDA’s nationwide incident coordinator for the H5N1 response, didn’t give you a solution, saying solely that “94 herds are those we’ve detected because the begin of this outbreak.”
Shortly after the briefing, USDA up to date its list of affected herds, which now stands at 96 in 12 states.
