Penn State Dairy Herd Certified Free of Avian Influenza After Rigorous Testing

Penn State’s dairy herd has been certified as free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) after three weeks of intensive testing, according to animal health experts from the College of Agricultural Sciences. The certification was achieved under the Pennsylvania Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program, a voluntary state initiative aimed at monitoring and preventing the spread of HPAI in dairy cattle.

“The Penn State dairy herd has achieved ‘monitored herd’ status under the Pennsylvania Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program,” said Dr. Ernest Hovingh, extension veterinarian and clinical professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at Penn State. “This means the herd has met all program requirements, including having multiple negative weekly test results for the HPAI virus.”

The testing, which was initiated in response to a recent outbreak of avian influenza affecting dairy cattle in more than a dozen states since March, was conducted at Penn State’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory. As of August 22, the virus had not been detected in any Pennsylvania dairy herds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state animal health authorities.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has strongly encouraged all dairy farms in the state to enroll in the voluntary monitoring program. This initiative is crucial for gathering data on the health status of dairy herds in Pennsylvania and for early detection of HPAI should it appear in the state.

The testing process involved analyzing bulk-tank milk samples from Penn State’s entire milking herd using a highly sensitive and specific real-time PCR test. Mathias Martins, head of the virology and molecular diagnostics sections at the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, explained the accuracy of the testing method. “The real-time PCR test conducted to monitor HPAI in dairy is highly sensitive and specific, ensuring a high level of confidence in the laboratory results,” Martins said. “All samples tested were negative for HPAI over three consecutive weeks, confirming that the virus is not present in the Penn State dairy herd.”

Dr. Jacob Werner, Research Professor and Attending Veterinarian at Penn State, emphasized that the University’s cows have remained healthy throughout the testing period, with no new animals brought into the herd — a primary means by which HPAI could spread. He also noted that the weekly testing will continue as a precautionary measure, even though the risk of infection is minimal.

“It’s a very simple process to take a sample and submit it to the lab,” Werner said. “And there’s no charge for the testing, since that’s covered by the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network.”

Hovingh and Werner underscored the importance of Penn State’s participation in the state and national surveillance efforts, hoping it would encourage other dairy producers to do the same. “By testing our herd, we hope to have set an example for others to participate in the Lactating Dairy Cow Health Monitoring Program,” Hovingh said. “Besides confirming our expectation that our herd is free of avian flu, one of our goals was to inspire dairy producers across the state to test their herds too, so Pennsylvania animal health authorities can document that the state is in fact HPAI-free, as well as detect any outbreak that might occur and nip it in the bud before it has a chance to spread.”

This proactive approach highlights Penn State’s commitment to animal health and its leadership in supporting statewide efforts to safeguard the dairy industry against potential threats.