September 19, 2024: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Confirmed in Seven Additional Dairies in California
SACRAMENTO, CA – Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in seven (7) new dairies, for a total of seventeen (17) affected dairies in Central California. The seven new HPAI-confirmed dairies were in a group targeted for testing due to elevated risks from their recent connections with the initial affected premises. These recent findings are not unexpected and support CDFA's implementation of current surveillance strategies with the goal of finding affected farms as early as possible. Early detection provides the opportunity to work with farms to quickly implement enhanced biosecurity, cow care, and employee protection.
This nationwide outbreak of HPAI H5N1 began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in US dairy cattle in March 2024. All national detections in cattle can be found on the USDA website at the following link:
HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
All affected dairies have been placed under quarantine. Enhanced biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Sick cows are isolated and being treated at the dairies. Most infected livestock and dairy cattle can fully recover from HPAI infection within a few weeks.
California's supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. Healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. Pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus, so there is no cause for concern for consumers of milk or dairy products that have undergone this process. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
No human cases of HPAI related to this incident have been confirmed in California. According to the California Department of Public Health (
CDPH) and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat, and the risk to humans continue to be considered low.
Stay Informed:
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit
CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza in California, please send an e-mail to
cdfa.HPAIinfo@cdfa.ca.gov or call
916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call
916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to
OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
September 17, 2024: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Confirmed in Two Additional Dairies in California
SACRAMENTO, CA – Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two (2) new dairies, for a total of ten (10) affected dairies in the Central California. The two new HPAI-confirmed dairies were in a group targeted for testing due to elevated risks from their recent connections with the initial affected premises. These recent findings are not unexpected and support CDFA’s implementation of current surveillance strategies with the goal of finding affected farms as early as possible. Early detection provides the opportunity to work with farms to quickly implement enhanced biosecurity, cow care, and employee protection.
This nationwide outbreak of HPAI H5N1 began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in US dairy cattle in March 2024. All national detections in cattle can be found on the USDA website under:
HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
All affected dairies have been placed under quarantine. Enhanced biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Sick cows are isolated and being treated at the dairies. Most infected livestock and dairy cattle can fully recover from HPAI infection within a few weeks.
California's supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. Healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. Pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus, so there is no cause for concern for consumers of milk or dairy products that have undergone this process. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
No human cases of HPAI related to this incident have been confirmed in California. According to the California Department of Public Health (
CDPH) and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat, and the risk to humans continue to be considered low.
Stay Informed:
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit
CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza in California, please send an e-mail to
cdfa.HPAIinfo@cdfa.ca.gov or call
916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call
916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to
OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
September 12, 2024: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Confirmed in Two Additional Dairies in California
SACRAMENTO, CA – Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two (2) new dairies, for a total of eight (8) affected dairies in the Central Valley of California. The two (2) dairies, in addition to the last three (dairies) confirmed for HPAI, were in a group targeted for testing due to elevated risks from their recent connections with the initial affected premises. These recent findings are not unexpected and support CDFA’s implementation of current surveillance strategies with the goal of finding affected farms as early as possible. This provides the opportunity to work with farms to quickly implement enhanced biosecurity, cow care, and employee protection.
This nationwide outbreak of HPAI H5N1 began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in US dairy cattle in March 2024. All national detections in cattle can be found on the USDA website under:
HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
All affected dairies have been placed under quarantine and enhanced biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Sick cows are isolated and are being treated at the dairies. Most infected livestock and dairy cattle can fully recover from HPAI infection within a few weeks.
California's supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. Healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. Pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus so, there is no cause for concern for consumers from milk or dairy products. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
No human cases of HPAI have been confirmed in California related to this incident. According to the California Department of Public Health (
CDPH) and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat and the risk to humans is considered to be low.
Stay Informed:
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit
CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza in California, please send an e-mail to
cdfa.HPAIinfo@cdfa.ca.gov or call
916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call
916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to
OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
September 11, 2024: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Confirmed in Three Additional Dairies in California
SACRAMENTO, CA — Following an investigation by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in three new dairies in the Central Valley of California. These dairies were in a group targeted for testing due to elevated risks from their recent connections with the initial affected premises. These findings are not unexpected and support CDFA’s implementation of current surveillance strategies with the goal of finding affected farms as early as possible. This provides the opportunity to work with farms to quickly implement enhanced biosecurity, cow care, and employee protection.
This nationwide outbreak of HPAI H5N1 began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in US dairy cattle in March 2024. All national detections in cattle can be found on the USDA website under:
HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov). Note that the website is updated at noon Eastern Standard Time.
All affected dairies have been placed under quarantine and enhanced biosecurity measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Sick cows are isolated and are being treated at the dairies. Most infected livestock and dairy cattle can fully recover from HPAI infection within a few weeks.
California's supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. Healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. Pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus so, there is no cause for concern for consumers from milk or dairy products. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
No human cases of HPAI have been confirmed in California related to this incident. According to the California Department of Public Health (
CDPH) and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat and the risk to humans is considered to be low.
Stay Informed:
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit
CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
For public inquiries regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza in California, please send an e-mail to
cdfa.HPAIinfo@cdfa.ca.gov or call
916-217-7517. For media inquiries, please call
916-654-0462 or send an e-mail to
OfficeOfPublicAffairs@cdfa.ca.gov.
HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA (HPAI) CONFIRMED IN THREE CALIFORNIA DAIRY HERDS
Three Central Valley farms quarantined; no human cases detected; no threat to the milk and food supply
SACRAMENTO, August 30, 2024 – Cows at three California dairies located in the Central Valley have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). When the herds began showing clinical signs consistent with HPAI on August 23-25, 2024, samples from these three sites were submitted to our California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) laboratory network for preliminary determination, then submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), where the test results were confirmed today.
No human cases of HPAI have been confirmed in California related to this incident. The California Department of Health (CDPH) will provide official confirmation of any human cases associated with this incident.
"We have been preparing for this eventuality since earlier this year when HPAI detections were confirmed at dairy farms in other states," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. "Our extensive experience with HPAI in poultry has given us ample preparation and expertise to address this incident, with workers' health and public health as our top priorities."
According to
CDPH and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC),
this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat and the risk to humans is considered to be low. The primary concern is for dairy workers who come into close contact with infected dairy cows. As we have learned from recent cases in other states, these workers may be at risk of contracting avian influenza. The CDC has confirmed four human cases of HPAI in dairy workers in other states since April 2024: one each in Texas and Colorado, and two in Michigan. CDFA is working with public health officials and dairy owners to inform and monitor workers at the affected dairies in California, and to assist the dairies with providing personal protective equipment.
California’s supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. As a precaution, and according to longstanding state and federal requirements, milk from sick cows is not permitted in the public milk supply. Also, pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus, so there is no cause for concern for consumers from milk or dairy products. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
The detection of HPAI in cattle is by no means unexpected. The HPAI virus has been detected in North American wild birds in the U.S. since 2022, with occasional transmission into domestic poultry or wild mammals in almost all states, including California. In March, 2024, the first US detection in cattle was confirmed in Texas, most likely due to a single spillover event from wild birds. Since that time, the USDA has linked new detections in cattle to the interstate and regional movement of infected or contaminated livestock, people, and equipment.
The affected dairies have been placed under quarantine on the authority of CDFA’s State Veterinarian, and enhanced biosecurity measures are in place. Sick cows are isolated and are being treated at the dairies; healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization. Animal movement is being tracked and evaluated, as are other potential introduction pathways. Additional testing will be prioritized according to epidemiologic risk. CDFA's preliminary investigation has confirmed that cows have been moved among these dairies recently. The investigation and response are ongoing.
Background on HPAI in California
CDFA has been engaged for years now with an extensive network of private veterinarians, farmers and ranchers, backyard bird enthusiasts, and local, state and federal partners to actively monitor for this disease in livestock and poultry throughout California. The department has taken steps to reduce the risk of entry of infected dairy cattle into the state, has extensive experience responding quickly and effectively to past detections of HPAI in poultry, and is fully prepared to respond to detections in cattle.
Most infected livestock and dairy cattle are able to fully recover from an HPAI infection within a few weeks. As we are seeing with this current incident, dairy herds can show clinical signs of infection such as reduced milk production; thicker, concentrated, colostrum‐like milk; a decrease in feed consumption; abnormal, tacky or loose feces; lethargy; dehydration; and fever.
No California domestic poultry flocks are affected by the current incident. Avian influenza viruses continue to circulate normally among migratory and wild birds. Monitoring of both wild and domestic bird populations is performed on a continuous basis by multiple public agencies, as well as farmers and ranchers and private bird owners.
At the federal level, USDA has implemented or expanded a number of programs to support affected dairy premises. These include the Dairy Herd Status Program and financial assistance for the heat treatment and disposal of milk, veterinary costs, personal protective equipment (PPE), milk loss offset via the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), biosecurity planning and implementation, as well as shipping cost offset for H5N1 testing. Information about all US detections in cattle can be found on the USDA website under: HPAI in Livestock | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov).
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit
CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
Media Contact:
Steve Lyle, CDFA, 916-654-0462,
officeofpublicaffairs@cdfa.ca.gov
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/HPAI.html
