State reports 100% negative results for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy herds

Earlier this year, a nationwide outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in cows caused panic for dairy farmers everywhere. Now, Massachusetts has become the only state to test all of its dairy herds, from 95 farms, and achieve 100% negative results for the virus.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird or avian flu, often results in death for poultry. According to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, cows that contract the virus exhibit lethargy and show reduced milk production for a few weeks. There have also been several cases of dairy farm workers who have contracted the virus and experienced flu-like symptoms from coming into contact with unpasteurized milk.

The virus was first detected back in March in dairy cows in Texas. According to MDAR, it spread to herds in at least 14 states after that.

“It’s so new this year that they’re still figuring out what the ideal host is and how it’s spreading,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “It’s hard to say how common it is.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health consider the public health risk to be low, but are preparing in case that changes. MDAR collaborated with DPH, the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers and the Broad Institute to fight the outbreak.

“We as an organization really want to make sure that we’re all in this together. And there’s a certain risk to everybody,” said Mark Duffy, who serves on the board of Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers and operates Great Brook Farm in Carlisle. “In the scheme of things, we are all family dairy farms in Massachusetts.”

Massachusetts is the only state in the country to yield a 100% negative result, however, despite the result, testing is ongoing, Randle said. MDAR is still testing herds and will continue to test this month, at no cost to the farmers.

“We must remain vigilant and continue monitoring farms across the state to protect animal and public health,” DPH Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein said in a statement. “This is a great example of how collaboration across government and with communities can result in better health and maintain the integrity of the local dairy industry.”

Randle said MDAR is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to have a national model that states can follow.

“It does take quite a bit of staff time and capacity to travel to all the herds and do testing,” Randle said. “We’re hoping that the processors will be able to assist when they’re picking up milk from the farms, to be able to take the samples as well.”

Duffy said state milk inspectors come in and pull samples out of the tank where the milk is stored.

“We really stress that the milk supply is safe,” Duffy said. “This is to prevent it from spreading in the dairy herd, which, if it was to occur, and it has not occurred, would have an impact on our cows.”

Andrea O’Brien of O’Brien Farm in Orange said because her farm produces raw milk, she’s already used to the milk getting tested every month, so it didn’t have an impact on her farm. Yet, O’Brien said because of the size of her farm, she knows right away when something isn’t normal.

“If we have a sick cow, we know right away, whereas if you’re milking 10,000, you don’t have the same sort of management,” O’Brien said.

Peter Laznicka and Kat Chang operate Reed Farm in Sunderland, a small-scale poultry farm and processor. They have to take strict biosecurity measures to ensure their 10,000 chickens don’t get sick.

Chang said the two are always thinking about preventing illness. They take measures to make sure they are not cross-contaminating and keeping the area clean.

“We’re just very careful. We make sure any birds that show up are healthy,” Laznicka said.

Randle said the virus in cattle spreads when moving in between herds. She said the size of the herds doesn’t matter but the movement of the cattle and the hygiene of the equipment is what counts.

She said the virus was first detected in cows in Texas due to animals that had moved from one farm to another.

“All it takes is one animal to move that has the presence of the virus, or workers that may be working on different dairy farms, or going from a poultry operation to a dairy and back again,” Randle said.

Randle said because Massachusetts was the first state to yield a 100% negative result, it set a model for other states to follow. She attributed success to starting a partnership with farmers and public health officials early and keeping all lines of communication open.

Mara Mellits writes for the Greenfield Recorder through the Boston University Statehouse Program.