Background
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus has been detected in
cattle and other mammals in multiple states. At this time, HPAI has not been detected in Oregon dairy cattle.
The strain of HPAI detected in cattle in other states is the same strain that has been circulating in wild waterfowl throughout the US. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, the risk to the public remains low. This continues to be a developing situation and more information will be shared by federal and state partners as it becomes available (see Resource sections below).
Initial Detections
On March 20, 2024, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health
announced that goats in Minnesota had been diagnosed with HPAI on a backyard poultry farm that was infected with HPAI. The primary symptoms associated with affected goat kids were neurologic signs and unusual mortality rates. The adult goats on this premises seem to be unaffected by HPAI.
On March 25, 2024, USDA
announced that HPAI was detected in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas on farms that were affected with a syndrome first reported in the Texas panhandle in February 2024. Multiple states have since confirmed HPAI in dairy cattle and the CDC has confirmed human cases of HPAI infection in dairy workers.
Signs in Dairy Cattle
The primary symptoms reported in clinically affected dairy cattle include:
- Decrease in feed consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination and rumen motility
- Respiratory signs, including clear nasal discharge
- Acute drop in milk production
- Abnormal tacky or loose feces
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Thicker, more concentrated, colostrum-like milk or no milk at all in severely affected animals
Some infected cattle may be asymptomatic (subclinical). Most infected cattle can recover in 2-3 weeks.
Reporting
Suspected cases of HPAI, including in cattle that fit the described signs above, must be immediately reported to the Oregon State Veterinarian (503-986-4711). HPAI in any species is considered a foreign animal disease and immediate reporting of suspected cases is required.
Import Requirements
In April 2024, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) enacted emergency import requirements for cattle being imported into the State of Oregon
from any state with cattle currently affected by HPAI. In addition to existing import requirements, these emergency import requirements include:
- No cattle exposed to, infected with, or suspected to be carrying HPAI may be imported into Oregon.
- Non-lactating dairy cattle require:
- A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon; and
- A valid Import Permit issued by ODA.
- Lactating dairy cattle require:
- A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) completed no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon; and
- A valid Import Permit issued by ODA; and
- A negative individual or laboratory-pooled PCR test for influenza A, conducted on milk samples collected no more than 7 days prior to importation into Oregon.
The full rule is available online through the Oregon Secretary of State's website.
View Oregon Administrative Rule 603-011-5007
Food Safety
At this time, there is no concern about the safety of the milk or meat supply. Since raw milk can be a vehicle for the transmission of human pathogens, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with other dairy partners are recommending that raw milk should not be consumed. Pasteurization of raw milk has been shown to kill harmful microorganisms, including HPAI viruses. Only milk from healthy animals is authorized for interstate commerce for human consumption and all dairy cattle are also subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act and must be slaughtered and processed under inspection by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, ensuring that all meat entering the food supply has been inspected and approved for human consumption.