US announces plan to stop bird flu spread in dairy herds

By Elizabeth Schroeder |20 May 2024 | 1:03 pm

A plan to strengthen efforts to test for avian influenza and improve biosecurity on dairy farms has been launched by authorities in the US.

The US$200 million (about R3,63 billion) investment follows concerns raised by public health experts that the US government was not “doing enough to track the virus and prevent it from spreading to humans”, according to the agriculturedive.com.

As part of the plan, US$100 million (R1,82 billion) would be set aside to assist dairy farmers affected by avian influenza, or bird flu, as it is commonly known, to implement biosecurity measures and take the necessary precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.

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Dairy operations affected would each be eligible for up to US$28 000 (R510 000) in funding over a 120-day period, and a range of financial incentives would be provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in an attempt to increase biosecurity and cover veterinary fees, as well as the cost of collecting and testing samples.

Included in the funding would be US$2 000 (R36 300) per affected location per month to supply face masks and other personal protection equipment to workers as part of a health study.

In addition, dairy producers would be able to claim compensation for implementing effective biosecurity plans and establishing heat treatment systems to safely dispose of milk, agriculturedive.com reported.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement: “We want to make sure that we are doing what is necessary to provide producers on the ground with the most available and most scientific information and direction.”

According to a USDA online tracker, the virus had been detected in 42 dairy herds in nine states by 13 May.

The statement further said that the department would “work with states as they consider movement restrictions on lactating cattle and soon begin offering payments to offset losses in milk production due to the virus”.

Vilsack stressed that there was no concern about the safety of that country’s commercial milk and beef supplies, and the USDA “continues to see affected cows recover from treatment with few deaths being reported”.