The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and State veterinary and public health officials are working together to protect livestock, farms, and communities from avian influenza.
Our Response to Avian Influenza
In partnership with State veterinarians, USDA is implementing a National Milk Testing Strategy that will facilitate comprehensive H5N1 surveillance of the Nation’s milk supply and dairy herds. The strategy is designed to increase our understanding of the virus’ spread in the United States; support the rapid implementation of enhanced biosecurity measures to decrease the risk of transmission to other livestock; and inform critical efforts to protect farmworkers to help lower their risk of exposure.
This new strategy builds on measures we have taken since the beginning of the avian influenza outbreak to contain the virus. This includes those taken by States and national risk mitigation measures like USDA's April 2024 Federal Order, which requires testing before cattle movement between States and has helped limit the spread of H5N1 to new States.
Biosecurity is the best weapon against the spread of H5N1. Data shows that the virus can be transmitted on equipment, people, or other items that move from farm to farm, including between dairies and poultry facilities.
USDA continues to emphasize to farmers nationwide the importance of practicing good biosecurity, even if the virus has not been detected in their State or vicinity. We offer financial assistance to herd owners for planning and implementing enhanced biosecurity practices.
We continue to support the rapid development and timely approval of an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cows, in addition to other species. Several vaccine candidates for use in dairy cows are currently undergoing field trials.
USDA has consistently operated on a science-based, step-by-step approach informed by what we learn about this virus through our everyday work, research, and monitoring efforts, and this marks the next step in the escalation of our response.
With each detection of HPAI in livestock, USDA and our Federal and State partners have taken swift action to trace animal movements, assess the disease prevalence in herds, and initiate a variety of testing activities to confirm the safety of the meat and milk supplies.
While the current public health risk is low, CDC, in partnership with USDA and other Federal agencies, is also watching the situation carefully and working with States to monitor people with animal exposures. Learn more about CDC’s flu surveillance systems and HPAI activity in people.
In addition, USDA has implemented or expanded a number of programs to support affected dairy premises. Learn more about these programs below.
Producer Support Programs
Get the Facts
Below are answers to a few key questions about the detection of HPAI in dairy herds.
HPAI is a very contagious and often deadly respiratory disease of poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, and geese. It is often spread by wild birds and can make other animals sick, too. It's a major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade, and the economy worldwide. Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected.
HPAI H5N1 viral infection was first confirmed on a dairy premises on March 25, 2024. USDA, in coordination with States, took immediate action to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing, to learn more about the virus and how it was spreading among dairy cattle. USDA and State teams conducted extensive epidemiological work to investigate the links between HPAI-affected dairy premises and evidence of spillover into poultry premises.
Continued disease transmission regionally within the country is due to several factors. In addition to the movement of livestock, transmission between farms is likely related to normal business operations such as numerous people, vehicles, and other farm equipment frequently moving on and off an affected premises and on to other premises. Importantly, it is not currently believed that the disease is spread onto dairy or poultry premises by migratory waterfowl—this is supported by both genomic and epidemiological data analysis.
HPAI is extremely deadly in poultry flocks and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days. There is no treatment for HPAI. In poultry, the only way to stop the disease is to depopulate all affected and exposed poultry.
While dairy herds can show clinical signs of infection (such as reduced milk production; thicker, concentrated, colostrum‐like milk; a decrease in feed consumption; abnormal tacky or loose feces; lethargy; dehydration; and fever) most dairy cows are able to recover.
If you suspect a possible HPAI infection on your farm:
- Report it! Isolate any sick or exposed animals and contact your veterinarian, State animal health official , or the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge.
- Monitor yourself and your workers for new respiratory illness symptoms, including conjunctivitis (eye redness), for 10 days after exposure. This includes people who have worn recommended personal protective equipment.
- Those who develop symptoms should seek prompt medical evaluation for possible influenza testing by their clinician or public health department.
Questions?
If you have questions or want to enroll in any of USDA's producer support programs, contact your State animal health official or APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge.
