Bird Flu Confirmed In Another Washington Dairy Herd

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed bird flu in a Benton County dairy herd, in the south-central portion of the state. The detection came through routine surveillance, before cows showed signs of illness. WSDA said the herd is quarantined, with veterinarians treating affected animals and strict biosecurity measures in place.

The Department of Ag urges dairy producers to watch for and report any clinical signs of illness to their veterinarian, including:

Changes in milk appearance (thicker, often yellowish to brown)
Decreased milk production
Decline in feed intake
Fever
Respiratory symptoms
Changes in manure
Steep drop in rumination and rumen motility

Suspected cases should be isolated and reported to a veterinarian and state officials. Most infected cattle recover with supportive care, though full herd recovery typically takes four to six weeks.

Boots On The Ground Are Working Hard

“Seeing the virus move to another county is disappointing but our dairy farmers are working hard to implement their biosecurity plans, share lessons learned and help each other get through this,” said Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle. "This isn’t new for the country, but it is new for Washington. I’ve been in awe of how hard our veterinarians and dairy farmers work together every day to keep their cows healthy, keep their workers safe and keep operating despite all the uncertainty this virus brings with it. This detection was through routine surveillance enabling us to detect the virus before cows got sick. We hope this will help us to implement measures on farm to prevent transmission within or between other dairy or poultry facilities.”

Protecting The Herd

WSDA is encouraging all producers to follow their biosecurity plan or write one with your veterinarian to incorporate enhanced biosecurity measures:

Limit lactating animal movement between farms unless necessary
Do not share equipment, vehicles or workers
Clean and disinfect footwear before entering livestock areas
Limit visitors and require clean clothing and footwear
Isolate new animals for 30 days before introducing them to your herd
Separate sick or suspect cattle from healthy cattle when possible
Practice good milking hygiene and keep milk from sick or suspect cattle out of the bulk tank
Restrict access to open water used by wild waterfowl
Employ wildlife, wild bird, rodent and vector control
Minimize contact with wild birds and other animals, particularly around cattle, feed, water and equipment

Officials say pasteurized milk and dairy products remain safe, and no supply shortages are expected. However, health officials say consumers should avoid raw milk and unpasteurized dairy products, which may carry the virus.