High Pathogenic Avian Influenza

For Immediate Release:

USDA to Begin Accepting Applications for Expanded Emergency Livestock Assistance Program to Help Dairy Producers Offset Milk Loss Due to H5N1

Confirmed H5N1 Positive Test Results Required for Recovery Assistance

SYRACUSE, New York, June 27, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection in their dairy herds. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded ELAP through the rule-making process to assist with a portion of financial losses resulting from reduced milk production when cattle are removed from commercial milking in dairy herds having a confirmed positive H5N1 test. Positive test results must be confirmed through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

“USDA remains committed to working with producers, state veterinarians, animal health professionals, and our federal partners as we continue to detect the presence of H5N1 in dairy herds and take additional measures to contain the spread of the disease,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “When something unexpected, like H5N1, threatens the economic viability of the producers we serve, we are committed to finding ways, where we have the authority to do so, to revisit existing program policies and provide the financial support needed to help producers recover and sustain production.”

ELAP provides emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish to assist with losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as wildfires, that are not covered by other FSA disaster assistance programs. 

To read the full press release, click here. 

Follow Best Practices to Prevent the Spread of Bird Flu

A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) bird flu in dairy cows was first reported in the U.S. on March 25, 2024. This is the first time that these bird flu viruses have been found in cattle. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed infection in 3 people who worked with dairy cattle. CDC believes the current risk to the general public from bird flu viruses is low. However, people who work with infected birds or animals, including dairy cows, are at greater risk of contracting this virus.

The CDC has compiled a list of resources found here: https://bit.ly/4cAMTOm

To learn more about how the CDC is monitoring influenza data in people, please visit their website here: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5-monitoring.html

Helpful tips if you are visiting a farm, follow these procedures:

• Do not enter any farm premises without permission from the owner.
• Whenever possible, make an appointment prior to traveling to the farm.
• Wear clean clothes and shoes on the day of the visit.
• When you arrive, park your vehicle at the end of the farm drive or on the roadside and use your cell phone to notify the owners of your presence and to receive instructions for entry. Or, set up an appointment ahead of time
• Let the farm owner know if in the previous five days you have been on another farm or if you’ve had contact with wild birds. Also let them know if you personally own or care for birds or poultry.
• Observe all of the farm’s instructions regarding biosecurity procedures.
• Do not enter animal housing areas without express permission from the farm owner.
• Do not touch animals unless that is part of your tasks on the farm.
• Immediately report anything unusual to farm owner, especially sick or dead birds.

The USDA has made emergency funds available. More information can be found on this infographic and at their website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock

Documents with information on Financial Resources for Farmers and USDA Support for Producers with Affected Dairy Premises

Financial Resources for Farmers

USDA Support for Producers with Affected Dairy Premises

What is Avian Influenza (AI)?

Avian Influenza is a highly contagious poultry virus that has the potential to cause large financial losses to the U.S. poultry industry. A highly pathogenic strain (HPAI), H5N1, last hit the U.S. in 2014-2015 and was considered the nation’s largest animal health emergency. Over 200 cases of the disease were found in commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and wild birds. More than 50 million birds were affected and subsequently died or were euthanized on more than 200 farms in 15 states.

Where does it come from?

Waterfowl, both wild and domestic, act as carriers. Since the outbreak of 2014-2015, scientists have been monitoring wild bird populations, and waterfowl hunters send their harvested birds in for testing. Wild waterfowl regularly carry low-pathogenic strains of the virus, but it can easily mutate to a highly pathogenic strain, as we’ve seen this year.

How does it spread?

HPAI lives in the respiratory and/or intestinal tract of birds. It can be picked up from contact with infected feces, surfaces, or through the air, though ariel transmission from farm to farm is unlikely. It can be transported on infected feed, clothing, or equipment. Once on the farm, the disease is readily passed from bird to bird, infecting an entire flock quickly.

Which flocks are affected?

Flocks of any size, from backyard to commercial, and any species can be affected.

Common symptoms:

Any birds can be affected, but birds other than waterfowl react most strongly to the virus. Poultry infected with HPAI may show one or more of the following symptoms:

• Sudden death without clinical signs
• Decreased egg production or soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
• Swelling of head, comb, eyelid, wattles, and hocks
• Purple discoloration of wattles, comb, and legs
• Nasal discharge, coughing, and sneezing
• Discoordination
• Diarrhea

A high level of mortality without any clinical signs is known to be a hallmark of the virus. In some cases, expect 100% of the flock to die within a few days. Regardless of how the disease presents, a large portion of the birds in a flock will be affected. Waterfowl may carry the virus but not show symptoms.

What do I do if I think I have HPAI in my flock?

Report it! If your birds are sick or dying, it's important to report it immediately so that we can stop the spread to any other flocks. You can call:

• Your local veterinarian or flock veterinarian
• The State veterinarian serving your county
• The State Animal Health Diagnostic Center, at (607) 253-3900 or poultryhealth@cornell.edu
• The USDA toll-free at 1-866-536-7593

What can I do to manage it?

Because there is not a vaccine currently available in the U.S. for this disease, keeping it out through biosecurity is going to be the best course of action. The easy-to-follow biosecurity principles below can go a long way to keeping your birds safe from disease:

• Establishing an "all-in, all-out" flock-management policy
• Protecting against exposure to wild birds or water or ground contaminated by wild birds
• Closing bird areas to nonessential personnel or vehicles
• Providing employees with clean clothing and disinfection facilities and directions for their use
• Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting equipment and vehicles (including tires and undercarriage) when entering or leaving the farm
• Banning the borrowing or lending of equipment or vehicles
• Banning visits to other poultry farms, exhibitions, fairs, and sales or swap meets (if visits must occur, direct workers to change footwear and clothing on their return)
• Banning bringing birds in slaughter channels back to the farm

Contributed by CCE Livestock Specialist Amy Barkley. Additional information can be found in this fact sheet from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and on the USDA website. 

If you have any questions about this disease, please contact Amy Barkley at (716) 640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu. The information used to create this article is shared by the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).

Last updated July 26, 2024