In a significant development for Wisconsin’s agricultural sector, officials have identified the presence of bird flu in a dairy herd for the first time. This discovery has prompted state authorities to intensify monitoring and biosecurity measures.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), tests conducted on cow’s milk from a farm in Dodge County confirmed the presence of the highly contagious virus. The initial positive test result came from the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory on Thursday, followed by a second confirmation the next day. Both results were verified by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
The Dodge County farm had undergone five previous tests, all of which were negative. Since May, DATCP has been proactive in testing dairy farms across the state as a preventive measure against avian flu.
State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle stated that there had been no recent introduction of new animals to the farm, and the herd did not exhibit signs of illness. “The farmer did not have a reason to suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza on the farm,” said Konkle. “There’s really no appreciable increase in morbidity, which is cow sickness, or mortality, which is death.”
The H5N1 virus, commonly referred to as bird flu or avian flu, poses a potential threat to humans, though it has not been transmitted from human to human as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Importantly, pasteurization processes are effective in eliminating the virus, permitting farms to continue shipping milk that meets quality standards.
DATCP has alerted the relevant field representatives and processors associated with the farm. In cooperation with the USDA, the farm is employing stringent biosecurity protocols to prevent further spread. The cows have been quarantined as a precautionary measure.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, alongside local health partners, is monitoring the health of farmers and employees for flu-like symptoms. “Wisconsin is committed to protecting its dairy farms, its dairy workers, its dairy farmers, from … avian influenza and other animal diseases,” emphasized DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski.
While avian flu is highly contagious and often fatal to poultry, both humans and cattle typically recover from the virus. Outbreaks have impacted numerous farms nationwide, leading to the culling of millions of birds in Wisconsin alone this year.
In addition to the recent detection in Dodge County, a backyard poultry flock in Marquette County was affected by the virus earlier in December. Furthermore, the first human death due to avian flu in the U.S. was reported by the Louisiana Department of Health at the start of the year. This incident has led some Wisconsin researchers to advocate for enhanced hygiene practices on farms to mitigate risks.
