The Wyoming Livestock Board and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture received confirmation last week that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in a dairy cattle herd. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the infection, the first case of HPAI in a Wyoming dairy farm.
“The Livestock Board encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their veterinarians immediately if their cattle are symptomatic,” says Hallie Hasel, Wyoming State Veterinarian. “The primary concern with this diagnosis is on-dairy production losses, as the disease has been associated with decreased milk production.”
Hasel also reiterated that the risk to cattle is minimal and the human health risk remains very low. Symptoms of cattle infection include a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, changes in manure consistency, thickened or colostrum-like milk, and low-grade fever. Dairies are required to ensure that only milk from healthy animals enters the food chain.
