Battling Bird Flu’s Unlikely New Target: America’s Dairy Herds
The University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine has emerged as a key player in this unfolding story, securing significant federal funding through a cooperative agreement with the USDA. The multimillion-dollar grant supports collaborative projects aimed at tracking transmission patterns and developing mitigation strategies for highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy herds—research that could prove vital for protecting both animal health and the nation’s food supply.
U.S. Bird Flu Cases Surge: Where HPAI is Striking Poultry Across the Nation in 2025
The battle against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) rages on in the U.S., as the virus continues to spread and affect poultry in multiple states. Since the outbreak began in 2022, over 166.2 million birds have been impacted, with cases reported in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Although the frequency of outbreaks slowed significantly through most of 2024, the start of 2025 has seen a troubling rise in cases, with 110 new infections confirmed across 27 states in the past 30 days alone.
New York State Implements Mandatory Avian Influenza Testing for Live Bird Markets
In response to recent detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in live bird markets, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) has announced new testing requirements for all poultry entering the state’s live bird market system. This decisive action follows the proactive temporary closure of 82 live bird markets on February 7, 2025, in an effort to curb virus transmission and protect both animal and public health. Now, with all markets cleaned, sanitized, and reopened, the state is focusing on preventing reintroduction of the virus by requiring pre-entry testing for all poultry.
New study from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine confirms mammal-to-mammal avian flu spread
A new study from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine provides evidence that a spillover of avian influenza from birds to dairy cattle across several U.S. states has now led to mammal-to-mammal transmission – between cows and from cows to cats and a raccoon.
USDA Takes Action to Safeguard Livestock and Poultry Health Amid H5N1 Outbreak
The USDA commits $824 million in emergency funding to combat H5N1 in livestock, introducing a new Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program to enhance monitoring and disease control.
Colorado becomes 9th state with H5N1-infected dairy cattle
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) has confirmed a detection of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cows in Northeast Colorado. This is the first detection of avian influenza diagnosed in cattle in Colorado. Detections of H5N1 in dairy cattle have occurred in eight other states.