By Scott Waterman, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Since early March 2024, 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 has been investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows.
A strange situation in Texas at the end of February this year, an absence of barn cats in a dairy barn (Diligent detective work leads to discovery of HPAI in dairy cattle) became the discovery of the first national outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. As of April 30, avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) was confirmed in dairy cattle from nine states: 12 herds in Texas, eight in New Mexico, six in Michigan, four in Kansas, two in Idaho, and one each in Ohio, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Vermont veterinarians are monitoring the situation as it develops and learning from other states and officials around the country. No cases have been detected in Vermont and no links to affected states have been identified. With the help of state animal health officials around the country, our State Veterinarians are working to stay ahead of this national concern.
For more information, the latest updates and resources, please visit the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets website here: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/HPAIinDairyCowsAnEmergingAnimalHealthIssue