Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Wyoming Dairy Herd

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a dairy cattle herd in Wyoming. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

The Wyoming Livestock Board and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture have received confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory of the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in Wyoming. The detection was first identified in samples received by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a dairy farm in Wyoming.

Symptoms of HPAI in cattle include a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, changes in manure consistency, thickened or colostrum-like milk, and low-grade fever. Producers are encouraged to practice good biosecurity on their farms such as limiting visitors and excluding any wild birds or animals from the dairy.  Dairies are required to ensure only milk from healthy animals enters the food chain. Additionally, the pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There is currently no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. The Wyoming Livestock Board and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture have been, and will continue to coordinate with federal and state partners to monitor this emerging issue.