<
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bird-flu-pushes-us-dairy-farmers-ban-visitors-chop-trees-2024-04-11/>
"CHICAGO, April 11 (
Reuters) - Dairy farmers in the United States are raising
their defenses to try to contain the spread of bird flu: banning visitors,
cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting
vehicles coming onto their land.
South Dakota on Thursday became the eighth state to find highly pathogenic
avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy herd, after the U.S. Department of
Agriculture reported infections in North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Ohio,
Michigan, Idaho and New Mexico.
While the first cases appear to have been introduced to herds in Texas and
Kansas by wild birds, the USDA said transmission among cattle was also
possible. Agricultural officials in Michigan and Ohio said infected herds in
those states received cattle from Texas.
Reuters spoke to seven dairy farmers in five states who said they are
reinforcing safety and cleaning procedures, with three producers exceeding
government recommendations.
"Think of our farm now as a gated community for cows," said Karen Jordan, who
raises about 200 dairy cattle in Siler City, North Carolina. "Only the most
essential person can get past the gate."
Even before North Carolina's outbreak, Jordan, 64, said she was limiting
visitors who could unintentionally carry in contaminated bird droppings on
boots or vehicles. She also started chopping down about 40 small trees to avoid
attracting wild birds during spring migration.
The first confirmed case in a dairy herd on March 25 and the second human case
in two years on April 1 have heightened concerns in the U.S. about the spread
of the virus to animals and people. Bird flu has decimated poultry flocks
globally since 2022 and infected mammals ranging from seals and foxes to
skunks.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk to humans
remains low, but has asked states for plans to test and treat potentially
impacted farm workers."
Via Frederick Wilson II.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
