Latest news with #NationalVeterinaryServicesLaboratories
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Milk tested for bird flu reveals a scientific mystery
Dairy cows. (Photo by Lance Cheung/U.S. Department of Agriculture) Veterinary experts nationwide have a variety of hypotheses for new and puzzling test results from cow milk being analyzed for avian influenza. March marked one year since officials first reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — H5N1 — among dairy cattle. Since then, bird flu has infected 996 herds across the country, including 19 cases in the last month in California and Idaho. New Mexico reported nine dairy herds in Curry County tested positive last April, and began milk testing its cattle in February following the rollout of a federal program. The most recent results from milk-testing programs revealed that while more than 95% of the 93 cow herds in the state tested negative, a small set of inconsistent positives — all from three Curry County herds infected last year — remain, according to New Mexico State Veterinarian Samantha Holeck. Enter the mystery: The cows themselves do not test positive, nor do they demonstrate the symptoms documented in the earlier avian flu outbreak, she said, such as huge drops in milk production. 'It's been a real challenge to try to understand how it continues to circulate in some of these herds,' Holeck said. New Mexico is partnering up with veterinarians in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research the viral fragments found in the milk and sent samples to the federal National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. 'I know we're a year into this situation now,' Holeck said, 'but it seems like there's still just so much to try to understand.' New Mexico isn't alone in experiencing the viral fragments, said Michael Payne, a food animal veterinarian at University of California, Davis, who noted there have been reports of similar persistent positives in quarantined herds there. 'I wouldn't diminish the importance of it being small,' Payne said. 'Yes, we're talking about low levels of virus and yes, we're talking about cows not getting sick, but it's important that we're not exactly sure where it's coming from, and that in and of itself merits examination.' He said more than $2 million dollars of research is being conducted in California on avian flu transmission across a dozen projects; including examining if it's transmitted by flies; blowing in from dust storms; or carried by birds outside of waterfowl. 'It will be critical that we figure out how the disease is moving and how it's changing,' Payne said. While scientists need to perform more research, Payne posited some possibilities for the detection of viral fragments: they could signify a different and less potent version of the virus; cooler weather might allow more viral fragments to survive in the bulk tanks, compared to the triple-digit temperatures in the fall; cows may have developed 'herd immunity' against the virus. 'It could be that much smaller numbers of cattle are being exposed and are becoming infected, which has resulted in a much, much lower level of virus that's being detected inside the bulk tanks,' Payne said. 'It's an area of active research.' Veterinarian Andrew Bowman, a molecular epidemiologist at Ohio State University, said laboratory tests' sensitivity could also be a factor: They may be picking up positives from environmental contamination in the tanks or on the farms. 'It doesn't take much; we're talking a few copies of the viral genome to be present in a sample to send it positive,' Bowman said. 'We can pick up a positive that's likely not a viable virus.' Since the development of HPAI in cows is so new, as is the method of transmission — where the virus replicates in the mammary glands that produce milk — he said the basic questions of the interactions between the virus, the host and the environment still need answers. 'Science is still very much in the infancy of what we know about avian influenza in cattle,' Bowman said. While scientists say it's important to unravel the mystery of the viral fragments to better understand how the virus might change or spread in dairy cows, they also emphasize that risk to the public from avian influenza remains low. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports transmission of avian flu can occur from contact with milk from infected cows; eating, drinking or inhaling droplets contaminated with live virus; touching the live or dead bodies of infected animals. Thus far, the CDC has no documented human-to-human transmission. As of April 1, 70 people had contracted H5N1, mostly California farmworkers. Most milk sold in the U.S. is heated to a temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, called pasteurization. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested milk products in 17 states and, finding no live viruses, reported that 'pasteurization is effective at inactivating H5N1, and that the commercial, pasteurized milk supply is safe.' Federal officials, however, warn that unpasteurized milk, also called raw milk, is unsafe to drink. Research from the National Institutes of Health in June using infected raw milk from New Mexico found that the H5N1 virus had survived for at least five weeks in refrigerated conditions. Further, mice that consumed the raw milk showed signs of illness, which researchers suggest indicates drinking raw milk can transmit the virus to other organisms. Holeck emphasized that New Mexico milk is safe. 'For dairies, it's standard routine if they have sick cows for any reason, not just [avian flu], that milk is always diverted out from the milk supply, it doesn't enter commerce,' she said.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico milk tests for bird flu reveal scientific mystery
Quality control expert inspecting milk in the laboratory. (Getty Images) Veterinary experts nationwide have a variety of hypotheses for new and puzzling test results from cow milk being analyzed for avian influenza — including in New Mexico. March marked one year since officials first reported Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — H5N1 — among dairy cattle. Since then, bird flu has infected 996 herds across the country, including 19 cases in the last month in California and Idaho. New Mexico reported nine dairy herds in Curry County tested positive last April, and began milk testing its cattle in February following the rollout of a federal program. The most recent results from milk-testing programs revealed that while more than 95% of the 93 cow herds in the state tested negative, a small set of inconsistent positives — all from three Curry County herds infected last year — remain, according to New Mexico State Veterinarian Samantha Holeck. Enter the mystery: The cows themselves do not test positive, nor do they demonstrate the symptoms documented in the earlier avian flu outbreak, she said, such as huge drops in milk production. 'It's been a real challenge to try to understand how it continues to circulate in some of these herds,' Holeck said. New Mexico is partnering up with veterinarians in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to research the viral fragments found in the milk and sent samples to the federal National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. 'I know we're a year into this situation now,' Holeck said, 'but it seems like there's still just so much to try to understand.' New Mexico isn't alone in experiencing the viral fragments, said Michael Payne, a food animal veterinarian at University of California, Davis, who noted there have been reports of similar persistent positives in quarantined herds there. 'I wouldn't diminish the importance of it being small,' Payne said. 'Yes, we're talking about low levels of virus and yes, we're talking about cows not getting sick, but it's important that we're not exactly sure where it's coming from, and that in and of itself merits examination.' He said more than $2 million dollars of research is being conducted in California on avian flu transmission across a dozen projects; including examining if it's transmitted by flies; blowing in from dust storms; or carried by birds outside of waterfowl. 'It will be critical that we figure out how the disease is moving and how it's changing,' Payne said. While scientists need to perform more research, Payne posited some possibilities for the detection of viral fragments: they could signify a different and less potent version of the virus; cooler weather might allow more viral fragments to survive in the bulk tanks, compared to the triple-digit temperatures in the fall; cows may have developed 'herd immunity' against the virus. 'It could be that much smaller numbers of cattle are being exposed and are becoming infected, which has resulted in a much, much lower level of virus that's being detected inside the bulk tanks,' Payne said. 'It's an area of active research.' Veterinarian Andrew Bowman, a molecular epidemiologist at Ohio State University, said laboratory tests' sensitivity could also be a factor: They may be picking up positives from environmental contamination in the tanks or on the farms. 'It doesn't take much; we're talking a few copies of the viral genome to be present in a sample to send it positive,' Bowman said. 'We can pick up a positive that's likely not a viable virus.' Since the development of HPAI in cows is so new, as is the method of transmission — where the virus replicates in the mammary glands that produce milk — he said the basic questions of the interactions between the virus, the host and the environment still need answers. 'Science is still very much in the infancy of what we know about avian influenza in cattle,' Bowman said. While scientists say it's important to unravel the mystery of the viral fragments to better understand how the virus might change or spread in dairy cows, they also emphasize that risk to the public from avian influenza remains low. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports transmission of avian flu can occur from contact with milk from infected cows; eating, drinking or inhaling droplets contaminated with live virus; touching the live or dead bodies of infected animals. Thus far, the CDC has no documented human-to-human transmission. As of April 1, 70 people had contracted H5N1, mostly California farmworkers. Most milk sold in the U.S. is heated to a temperature to kill bacteria and viruses, called pasteurization. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested milk products in 17 states and, finding no live viruses, reported that 'pasteurization is effective at inactivating H5N1, and that the commercial, pasteurized milk supply is safe.' Federal officials, however, warn that unpasteurized milk, also called raw milk, is unsafe to drink. Research from the National Institutes of Health in June using infected raw milk from New Mexico found that the H5N1 virus had survived for at least five weeks in refrigerated conditions. Further, mice that consumed the raw milk showed signs of illness, which researchers suggest indicates drinking raw milk can transmit the virus to other organisms. Holeck emphasized that New Mexico milk is safe. 'For dairies, it's standard routine if they have sick cows for any reason, not just [avian flu], that milk is always diverted out from the milk supply, it doesn't enter commerce,' she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Avian influenza confirmed at Crow Wing County poultry farm
Feb. 14—BRAINERD — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry from samples taken at a Crow Wing County farm. According to a news release from Crow Wing County, the site was quarantined and the 120 birds on the premises were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. The first Minnesota cases of avian flu were identified in March 2022. The last time there was a case in Crow Wing County was May of 2022, and there was a recent case detected in Wadena County in January of 2025. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which leads the state response to avian influenza, highlights the perseverance of the virus to continue infecting flocks. The board strongly encourages producers to focus on their biosecurity, which is a series of proactive steps to reduce the risk of disease affecting their birds. Flock owners large and small should consistently utilize biosecurity to manage the health of their birds. The University of Minnesota Extension maintains biosecurity resources for commercial and backyard flocks. For more information, visit . Poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they see any signs or symptoms of disease in their flock: * Decrease in feed or water intake * Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and hocks * Decrease in egg production * Sudden, unexplained death * Extreme depression * Very quiet * Difficulty breathing Veterinarians who receive reports of clinical signs of avian influenza should call the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 1-833-454-0156 or submit a sick bird report online. If it is after hours or on the weekend, call the Minnesota duty officer at 1-800-422-0798. Subsequent highly pathogenic avian influenza cases will be posted on the board's website at .
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First 2025 case of bird flu in Washington State confirmed
The first Washington State case of avian influenza, or bird flu, for 2025 has been confirmed in Franklin County. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) says a commercial farm there saw a large number of chicken deaths around Jan. 22. Other birds were lethargic and showing additional signs of illness, prompting an investigation by state and federal veterinarians, according to the WSDA. After the results were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories Friday, state officials quarantined the affected premises to prevent the spread of disease. All birds on the premises were humanely euthanized. WSDA says poultry products from the flock will not enter the food supply system. There have been 54 flocks (51 domestic and three commercial) infected in Washington since 2022. The WSDA is working with the Washington State Department of Health and local health jurisdictions to identify people exposed to infected animals to provide prevention recommendations and monitor any potential symptoms. The first human cases of H5 avian influenza were reported in Washington state in October 2024. To date, there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of avian influenza.
