Bird flu virus found in milk of Kansas cattle

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Federal health officials say they have found the bird flu virus in cattle from three states, including Kansas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a press release that an investigation is active in the states of Kansas, Texas and New Mexico. Health officials are trying to determine why older dairy cows in these states are experiencing decreased lactation and low appetite among other symptoms.

On Monday, March 25, milk samples from the sick cows were collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and another in Texas. These samples tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which is also known as the bird flu. Testing conducted in Texas shows the sickness was introduced to the farms by wild migrating bird populations.

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories have not found changes to the virus which would make it transmissible to humans. The risk to the general public is low at this time.

There is currently no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or of a greater risk to the health of consumers. Dairies must only send milk from healthy animals with the milk from those found to be infected by HPAI being diverted or destroyed. Additionally, pasteurization is proven to counter bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture warned Kansans late last year of a rise in cases nationwide of bird flu cases. A case of bird flu was identified in a backyard flock in December 2023 in Pottawatomie County, likely as the result of migrating birds as they travel across the country.

HPAI is a highly contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys, and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds, according to the KDA. This outbreak has seen illness and mortality in a wider scope of bird species than past outbreaks, including wild and domestic waterfowl.

Symptoms of HPAI include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. HPAI can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.

If you see these symptoms in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact the KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006. The KDA also updates its website with areas where HPAI is detected.

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