The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday advised states to aid in H5N1 bird flu surveillance by increasing testing of influenza A virus samples during the summer to help detect even rare cases of transmission of the virus in humans.
US CDC asks states to keep flu testing on high this summer
Bird flu found in Illinois, Florida wastewater
A U.S.-based wastewater detection dashboard has identified high levels of influenza A (a subtype of H5N1 bird flu) in Illinois and Florida—two states that have not yet reported positive cases of the disease in dairy herds.
Briefs: Carbon and beef cattle; biosecurity and livestock
Reading Time: < 1 minute Carbon and beef cattle Every living thing contains carbon, and everything — including cattle, grasslands,and people — is part of the carbon cycle. Raising beef cattle can have both positiveand negative impacts on the carbon cycle and different management practicescan increase or decrease the sector’s carbon footprint. Learn more about howproduction systems stack up by […] Read more
The wild side of zoonotics
Did the U.S. practice of feeding chicken litter contribute to the bovine flu outbreak?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Commonly known as bird flu, avian influenza A has crossed the boundaries from the chicken barn to the dairy farm and from there to a human in the United States. This is a serious virus that has infected poultry in 50 American states since 2022. The person infected in April is the second U.S. human […] Read more
Canadian milk samples test negative for bird flu
It’s so far, so good when it comes to Canada’s milk testing efforts against bird flu as all samples have tested negative thus far.
U.S. dairy flu strain shows signs of being a different beast
Strain infecting dairy cattle in U.S. behaves erratically, says bird flu specialist
Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Veterinarians and food safety officials have been scrambling since late March to understand the origin and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds across several states. Many potential vectors have been considered, from migratory birds, direct cow-to-cow transmission and milking equipment. A University of Guelph veterinary professor has one […] Read more
Opinion: The barons of the dinner table
New book pulls back the curtains on ag mercantilists
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Manufacturers are “an order of men whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public.” That quote is originally from the first economist, Scotland’s Adam Smith, almost 250 years ago, and is repurposed by writer Eric Schlosser in the foreword of Iowan Austin Frerick’s new book, “Barons: Money, Power, […] Read more
US to provide nearly $200 million to contain bird flu spread on dairy farms
The Biden administration said today it will provide nearly $200 million to fight the spread of avian flu among dairy cows, in the government's latest bid to contain outbreaks that have fueled concerns about human infections with the H5N1 virus.
Canada expands bird flu surveillance in dairy cattle
Government issues requirements for testing bird flu in dairy cattle and milk
The Government of Canada and stakeholders are taking new precautions to help prevent the emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Canadian dairy cattle.
U.S. health officials warn dairy workers are at risk from bird flu
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. health officials on Friday warned that dairy workers remain at risk from the H5N1 bird flu virus that is infecting dairy herds, and urged them to wear protective gear to avoid infection. The U.S. CDC urged farmers, workers, and emergency responders to wear appropriate protective gear when in direct or […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
