A Climbing Number of H5N1 Cases in CA Dairy Herds

As of Monday, December 30th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, has confirmed 12 new cases of H5N1 avian flu in California dairy cattle, bringing the state’s total to 697 cases. Nationwide, the virus has now affected 912 cattle across 16 states. While most outbreaks have been in California's Central Valley, recent detections in the southern part of the state have raised concerns.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on December 18th, freeing up additional resources to combat the virus in dairy herds, poultry, and for those exposed to contaminated animals or products.

If you are a dairy producer, it’s important to be aware of common clinical signs in affected cows. From the American Veterinary Medical Association, they report that those include low appetite, reduced milk production, and abnormal milk appearance, such as thickening or discoloration. They add that lactating cows are most highly affected, but signs have been reported in less than 10% of cows within a herd.

For an interactive map showing where these cases have been found, visit: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock