Since 2022, U. S. poultry farmers have been dealing with a nationwide outbreak of what’s known as avian flu or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). You’ve probably noticed stories of flocks of poultry being quarantined or even euthanized due to the outbreak.
For the first time, a farmed mammal (cow, sheep, horse, bull, etc. ) has been tested for influenza.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health released data Thursday that a deceased kid or juvenile goat had tested positive. The goat component of a herd in Stevens County.
Earlier this month, the farmer informed the Animal Health Board that there had been several deaths among his kids. The goats had shared an area occupied in the past by a flock of poultry quarantined for bird flu in February and had also shared the same area. . water source.
In the opinion of the Commission:
“This is the first detection of HPAI in a ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives) in the United States. “
The Council’s press also stated:
“HPAI has already been diagnosed in other mammal species, such as skunks, dogs and cats. Animals with weakened or immature immune systems, as in this case, are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. “
However, officials also claim that the latter mammals do not appear to show symptoms of transmission of the virus: according to the Council:
“This location is vital because while spring migration is indeed a time of increased transmission risk for poultry, it highlights the potential for the virus to infect other animals on farms with species,” said state veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs. “Fortunately, studies have so far shown that mammals appear to be dead-end hosts, meaning they are unlikely to spread HPAI further. “
Officials say that on farms where HPAI has been detected, they are urging manufacturers to separate their animals and closely monitor the fitness of uninfected groups.
Gallery Credit: Nicole Caldwell
The goat was one of the youngest animals that shared space and water source with a community of inflamed birds.
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Since 2022, U. S. poultry farmers have been dealing with a nationwide outbreak of what’s known as avian flu or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). You’ve probably noticed stories of flocks of poultry being quarantined or even euthanized due to the outbreak.
For the first time, a farmed mammal (cow, sheep, horse, bull, etc. ) has been tested for influenza.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health released data Thursday that a deceased kid or juvenile goat had tested positive. The goat component of a herd in Stevens County.
Earlier this month, the farmer informed the Animal Health Board that there had been several deaths among his kids. The goats had shared an area occupied in the past by a flock of poultry quarantined for bird flu in February and had also shared the same area. . water source.
In the opinion of the Commission:
“This is the first detection of HPAI in a ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives) in the United States. “
The Council’s press also stated:
“HPAI has already been diagnosed in other mammal species, such as skunks, dogs and cats. Animals with weakened or immature immune systems, as in this case, are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. “
However, officials also claim that the latter mammals do not appear to show symptoms of transmission of the virus: according to the Council:
“This location is vital because while spring migration is indeed a time of increased transmission risk for poultry, it highlights the potential for the virus to infect other animals on farms with species,” said state veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs. “Fortunately, studies have so far shown that mammals appear to be dead-end hosts, meaning they are unlikely to spread HPAI further. “
Officials say that on farms where HPAI has been detected, they urge farmers to separate their animals and thoroughly monitor the fitness of uninfected groups.