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1 1 (December 3, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goverma0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service informing the legislative debate since 914 0 December 3, 2024 H5N1 HPAI Continues to Spread in Dairy Herds The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a strain (H5N1) of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas on March 25, 2024. Through December 2, 2024, USDA had confirmed H5N1 HPAI in 689 dairy herds in 15 states (Table 1). The United States has approximately 26,000 licensed dairy herds. The spread of H5N1 in dairy herds accelerated in October and November and has been concentrated in the West, with California the current epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 446 newly affected herds in October and November (Figure 1). Table I. Total Dairy Herds with Confirmed HPAI State # Herds State # Herds California 475 North Carolina I Colorado 64 Ohio I Idaho 35 Oklahoma 2 Iowa 13 South Dakota 7 Kansas 4 Texas 26 Michigan 29 Utah 13 Minnesota 9 Wyoming I New Mexico 9 U.S. Total 689 Source: USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock, 2024. Cases are confirmed through December 2, 2024. USDA reports number of herds infected, not number of dairy cows infected. HSNI HPA n ary Herds The H5N1 strain of HPAI is a highly contagious disease with a high mortality rate in poultry. Since February 2022, more than 111 million birds in 49 states have been culled to control the disease. USDA believes H5N1 was originally transmitted to dairy cattle through wild birds. Continuing investigations indicate H5N1 may be transmitted by cow movement between herds or cross contamination between cattle and poultry premises. The mortality rate for dairy cows appears low according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Symptoms of H5N1 in dairy cows include reduced feed consumption, sudden decline in milk production, thick and discolored milk, tacky feces or diarrhea, and fever. H5N1 more severely affects older dairy cows than calves, dry cows (not producing milk), and heifers. Some H5N1-infected cows may not recover milking productivity; these cows may be culled. However, unlike poultry flocks, entire dairy cow herds are not culled to control outbreaks. Figure I. Herds Infected with HPAI, by Month N umber of affected herds os90 180 270 I IrnaICASE udtMAR scf APR tA MAY *KS JUN 3111N I din g NM p UNC AUG j *H * OK SEP S OCT T LIUT NOV r HWY Source: USDA, APHIS, HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock, accessed December 2, 2024. CDC has confirmed 57 human cases of human H5N I infection. Farm workers were exposed to dairy cattle in 34 cases and to pouitry in 21 cases, and 2 cases were of undetermined source. CDC continues its surveillance of HPAJ, including testing specimens and monitoring people who have been infected or have been exposed to infected animals. CDC currently considers te human healtt risk of this H5N HPAi outbreak to be low and has not found any evidence of person-to-person transmission. However, the ability for influenza A viruses to adapt and transmit to oter species causes concern among public health officials. The Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA; 7 U. S.C. §§8301 et seq.) provides USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorities to manage animal health. USDA has restricted interstate dairy cow movement, provided financial resources to milk producers, and increased HPAI surveillance. Federal Order on Anima Movement One of USDA's first responses was to issue a federal order in April 2024 under AHPA to require lactating dairy cattle receive a negative influenza A test from an approved National Animal Health Network Laboratory before moving interstate. When moving groups of fewer than 30 lactating dairy cows, each cow must be tested. For larger groups, 30 of the cows must be tested. Tests must be done no more than 7 days prior to interstate movement. Cows moved interstate directly to a slaughter facility require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection confirming their health. Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive influenza A test results to APHIS.

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