Identification of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Cattle in Southern Plains Raises Concerns About Global Spread and Impact on Food Supply and Wildlife.

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production.

So far, the disease, which initially started out as a bit of a mystery to state and federal officials, has been detected in Texas, New Mexico and Kansas. It has since been identified as highly pathogenic avian influenza, though officials say it does not pose a significant risk to human health.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state veterinary and public health officials investigated the illness.

According to APHIS, the flu is primarily impacting older dairy cows and can cause decreased milk production and low appetite as well as other symptoms.

0:00 Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza identified in mysterious disease affecting dairy cattle in Southern Plains.
0:29 Symptoms include flu-like symptoms and reduced milk production.
1:30 Disease identified as highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (hpai).
2:08 Hpai is normally intense and poses a significant threat to human population.
2:44 Global spread of a new and powerful strain of bird flu impacting waterfowl and leading to food insecurity.
3:20 New strain of bird flu killing waterfowl and spreading rapidly across continents.
4:07 Netherlands facing bird flu outbreak, leading to shutdown of millions of birds.
4:20 Concerns raised over the forced shutdown of farmers in the Netherlands.
4:44 Netherlands being the largest producer of meat and dairy in Europe, adding to global food insecurity.
5:13 Impact of Bird Flu Outbreak on Seabirds, Mammals, and Humans
5:40 Unusual strain of bird flu impacting 80 different species of birds and surviving through summer.
6:06 Outbreak on mink farm in Spain showing bird flu's ability to infect mammals.
6:56 Rare case of bird flu strain infecting and killing a woman in China.
7:05 Scientific group preparing forecasts for potential impact of bird flu on humans.
7:26 Official figures show 868 cases of human infection with bird flu over 20 years.
7:48 Current variant of bird flu has mortality rate between 20% and 40% in people.
8:16 Spread of mysterious cattle disease raises concerns about potential impact on beef supply and spread to mammals.
8:32 Concerns about spread within beef cattle population due to roaming distances and lack of constant supervision.
8:53 Possibility of impact on meat prices as extent of spread remains unknown.
9:07 Shift from bird flu in mammals to potential contamination in dairy cattle raises questions about spread mechanisms.
10:13 Concerns about gain of function in viruses and potential consequences on environment and food supply.
10:30 Potential threat of a mysterious disease spreading in agriculture and food supply.
10:42 Possibility of disease affecting meat supply
11:28 Warning of potential devastating impacts on food supply