UPDATED MARCH 2024
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu,” is a severe and highly contagious disease. Caused by avian influenza virus A (H5N1), it’s often spread by wild birds like ducks and geese during their migrations, especially during the spring and fall. When spread to domestic poultry, like chickens and turkeys, HPAI can be deadly and wipe out entire flocks in just a matter of days.
While HPAI primarily occurs in birds, poultry, and some mammals, for the first time in U.S history, there have been detections of HPAI A (H5N1) infections in dairy cows and goats.
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Learn more about HPAI in dairy herds in this USDA Q and A, and how to protect your livestock from avian influenza and what cattle and beef producers can do to reduce livestock and avian interaction with resources from University of Minnesota Extension.
HUMAN INFECTION
Avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses, including A (H5N1), do not usually infect humans. However, there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses mainly through unprotected, direct physical contact or close exposure with sick or dead birds, and infected animals (including, recently, infected dairy cattle livestock).
According to CDC’s interim recommendations, people should:
- Avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cattle), as well as with animal carcasses, raw milk, feces, litter, or materials contaminated by birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection.
- Refrain from preparing or eating uncooked or undercooked food or products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, or products made from raw milk such as cheeses, from animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection (avian influenza or bird flu).
“At this time, there continues to be no concern about the safety and availability of pasteurized milk products nationwide. Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk and is required for any milk entering interstate commerce.” – FDA
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Read more about milk safety and supply during HPAI outbreaks.
Find more specific recommendations, like wearing proper PPE (personal protective equipment), for farmers; poultry, backyard flock, and livestock owners; and workers.
HPAI TOOLKIT
UMASH has prepared a toolkit to help poultry farmers enhance prevention with biosecurity protocols, identify the signs and symptoms of HPAI in birds, and stay connected to additional resources from USDA – APHIS and state departments of agriculture.
Learn more from Dr. Jeff Bender
Explore further insights on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) through published articles and interviews featuring UMASH Director and University of Minnesota School of Public Health Professor, Jeff Bender, DVM, as he answers key questions about H5N1 among wild birds, poultry and dairy.
- Avian Flu on Dairy Farms: What Clinicians and Dairy Worker Patients Need to Know
April 17, 2024 – Migrant Clinicians Network - Bird flu affecting livestock spreads
April 5, 2024 – Ag Update’s Agri-View - Bird flu outbreak poses no risk to safety of America’s food supply, say experts
April 4, 2024 – ABC News - Bird flu confirmed in Texas worker who had contact with dairy cows
April 1, 2024 – NBC News - Avian flu detections in dairy cows raise more key questions
March 27, 2024 – Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) - Avian influenza found in US dairy cattle
March 26, 2024 – Agriculture Dive - Talking Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza with Jeff Bender
April 20, 2022 – University of Minnesota School of Public Health