Local extension programs, state monitoring bird flu

Apr. 9—The state Department of Agriculture and Markets and local Cornell Cooperative of Extension offices are monitoring the evolving situation of confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in birds and dairy cattle.

"There have been no detections or confirmations of HPAI in Delaware County," Rich Toebe, watershed livestock educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension Delaware County and Watershed Agricultural Program, said in an email. "So far in 2024, there have been two detections in poultry: a case in Monroe County affecting 20 birds and a case in Onondaga County affecting 10 birds. Both of these cases occurred in February." There have been several wild birds that have tested positive for HPAI in the state so far this year.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture website, the wild birds that have tested positive since March 1, are: red-tailed hawks, great horned owl, bald eagles, American crows, Canada goose, mallards, merlin, mute swan and herring gull. Counties that have reported HPAI cases since March 1, are: Rensselaer, Suffolk, Albany, Allegany Jefferson, Monroe, Schenectady, Erie, Orange, Onondaga, Tompkins and Kings.

In addition to birds, wildlife can contract the disease, Toebe said. "There have been no detections of HPAI in wildlife in New York state in 2024," he said. "There were 11 detections in wildlife in 2023 in New York State." According to the USDA website, foxes, a skunk and a captive big cat tested positive for the disease last year. According to a media release from Cornell University, foxes eat dead, infected birds, contract the disease and die.

"The cases detected in dairy cattle to date have been in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Idaho, Michigan and Ohio," Toebe said. "There was a detection in goats in Minnesota on a single farm. This detection occurred in newborn goats that died on a farm that had been depopulated of poultry just a few days prior to kidding due to HPAI. No adult goats tested positive. There have been no detections in dairy cattle or other ruminant livestock to date in New York state."

According to a media release, researchers at Cornell University's Virology Laboratory at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center confirmed the cows, dead birds and cats at one Texas farm all tested positive for the HPAI virus. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory also tested samples, which came back positive for HPAI. The diagnosis was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory at the USDA.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets announced in a media release it has issued a statewide alert to veterinarians urging them to contact the department if they see any signs or symptoms of illness in farm animals.

Chenango County Cornell Cooperative Extension has provided information in English and Spanish to county farmers about the disease and what to look for in dairy cattle. According to an article from the extension office, "About 10% of the herd was affected by this virus, with little to no mortality. The virus was mostly found in second and greater lactation cows, and very few cases were reported in dry cows, calves and first lactation heifers. Signs of the virus include:

—Reduced feed intake

—Sudden decrease in milk production

—Changes in manure consistency (dry manure but some diarrhea cases), and secondary infections such as pneumonia and mastitis (abnormal yellow thick milk).

—Dairy cows can be affected for 10-14 days with a peak in 3-5 days."

Daniela Gonzalez Carranza, Chenango Agriculture Educator and Dairy Management Specialist, said in an email that "Currently, there is no report of beef cattle being affected; since the virus is still being studied, these farms should also be aware."

Two farm workers have also tested positive for the virus, Gonzalez Carranza's article said. These people "were closely exposed to sick animals." However, "the risk to the public remains low as no changes have been detected in the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans."

In addition to monitoring for animal health, the state and extension offices are urging farm owners and farm workers to practice good biosecurity measures, which include the following:

—Restrict on-farm access to employees and essential personnel;

—Provide farm-dedicated work boots for all workers that are not worn anywhere else;

—Prevent cattle from drinking from sources that may be contaminated by waterfowl;

—Prevent wild birds from accessing feed sources and make sure all feed spills are cleaned up; and

—Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your cattle are showing signs of HPAI.

If any of these symptoms are noted, veterinarians are urged to call the state department at 518-457-3502 for sampling guidance.

The USDA confirmed that there is no threat to human health, and pasteurized milk and dairy products remain safe to consume as pasteurization kills harmful microbes and pathogens in milk, including the influenza virus. There is also no concern regarding the consumption of properly cooked meat products.

Vicky Klukkert, staff writer, can be reached at vklukkert@thedailystar.com or 607-441-7221.