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HPAI dairy cattle cases dwindling?

Reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle have slowed. 

But Director of Public Policy Stephanie McBath with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture says officials have started to plan for what the impacts might be to dairy farms this fall.

“This is something we didn’t expect, and it certainly isn’t going away forever, but we would like to be prepared if states are faced with dealing with this again in the coming months,” she says.

She tells Brownfield it’s been four days since a new case has been confirmed by USDA and more than a week since the virus was found in additional states.

“This week has been quieter, which we’re hoping is a good sign and a good thing,” she says.

“We only have eight states that have detections, and we’re hoping to keep that number as low as possible.”

McBath says state Department of Agriculture leaders are meeting biweekly to share new information and cross-state impacts as the situation evolves.

AUDIO: Stephanie McBath, National Association of State Departments