Avian Influenza Spreads to Dairy Cows in Multiple US States

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been found in dairy herds in Michigan and Idaho, indicating the virus is spreading into new US states. The virus strain found in Michigan appears to have been introduced by wild birds, and transmission between cattle can’t be ruled out. There is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply, and initial testing hasn’t found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans. Concerns arise about the flu potentially spreading across borders, with speculation of infections in cows in Europe.