Experts say there is no evidence of avian flu strain in Pennsylvania

A strain of avian flu that has infected cattle elsewhere in the United States hasn’t been found in Pennsylvania.

But even if it does arrive locally, experts said it won’t affect the meat or milk supply and will likely only cause a cold for cattle.

“It poses no issue in the food supply chain at all,” said Dustin Heeter, livestock educator with the Penn State Extension in Hempfield.

The H5N1 influenza strain, which is widespread among wild fowl and a threat to domestic poultry, jumped from birds into cattle in late March, and to a Texas dairy farmer, according to the Associated Press. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported April 1 that the person had eye redness and recovered.

U.S. health officials are monitoring the situation, but the CDC stressed the public health risk is low.

As of Thursday, 36 dairy cattle herds in nine states have been infected, according to the CDC. Health officials regularly monitor humans — about 200 so far — who have come in contact with infected cows and only the Texas case has been reported.

While avian flu can be deadly to birds, it is far less devastating to cattle. The biggest problem could be a temporary reduction in production, Heeter said.

The strain that has jumped into cattle is related to migrating birds, said Ashley Fehr, state department of agriculture spokesperson. So far, no birds that travel in the Atlantic flyway, which crosses over Pennsylvania, have been detected to have avian flu, but department officials are monitoring the situation closely.

“Through our Pennsylvania animal health and diagnostic labs, we test animals with illness suggestive of the flu and we also recently tested a large lot of cattle for export, and no (avian flu) was found,” she said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered in late April the mandatory testing of lactating dairy cattle before being moved to another state in an effort to limit the spread. But corralling the virus can remain a challenge because of bird migration patterns.

“We can’t change where these birds wind up, or droppings,” Heeter said.

Herds moving to new locations should be isolated for 30 days under the USDA guidance.

Farmers can increase or add biosecurity measures as a way to protect their herds, officials said. That might mean some extra precautions as a way to prevent germs and viruses from moving in or out of an operation.

The Associated Press reported some farmers in California were covering water supplies with tarps to fend off migratory birds.

“The virus is linked to water fowl, so it is important for farms to consider taking a look … to ensure they are doing proper biosecurity not only with humans and animals, but also wildlife and water sources,” said Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of PA Beef Council.

Fehr said while avian flu typically results in a mild to moderate illness in cattle, it can be fatal in poultry.

“Given that many Pennsylvania farms are diversified, this is a call for all of (the) industry to be practicing biosecurity to prevent the spread of disease,” she said.

The USDA reported Wednesday ground beef samples from infected states showed the virus was not present, Hockenberry said.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found fragments of the inactivated virus in milk at retail stores, according to the Associated Press. The milk is safe to drink because it is pasteurized.