Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been confirmed in a dairy herd in Benton County, Minnesota, the state’s first confirmed case of H5N1. A producer noticed clinical signs in a handful of cows, and the next day more than 40 cows had signs of a fever. Samples from the sick cows were tested at the University of Minnesota and USDA, and both confirmed the virus. “We knew it was only a matter of time before this detection would reach our doorstep,” says Minnesota State Veterinarian, Dr. Brian Hoefs (Huffs). “It’s important for dairy farmers to follow the example of this herd and test sick cows.” HPAI symptoms in dairy animals mostly affect late-stage lactating cows, and include a fever, a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, and changes in manure consistency. No matter the status of each herd, biosecurity can reduce the risk of disease spreading onto or off farms.
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