USDAโฃ Confirms First Case of H5N1 Avian Influenza in Nebraskaโ Dairy Cattle
Theโ United States โคDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) has โขconfirmed the first caseโ of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in dairy cattle, detectedโ in โฃTexas โand Kansas, with subsequent cases identified in New Mexico, idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, and now Nebraska. This marks the first โขtime the virus has been found in U.S.dairy herds, raising concerns about potentialโ spread โขand impacts on the nation’s milk supply.The Nebraska โdepartment of Agriculture confirmed the case on March 29, 2024, and is working with the USDA to contain the outbreak.
the emergence โคof H5N1 in dairy cattle isโ especially concerning because it introducesโ a new mammalian species into โthe transmission cycle of the virus, possibly increasing the riskโ of mutations and spillover to humans. Whileโฃ the current risk to โคthe general public is considered low, the USDA and state veterinaryโค officials are closely monitoring the situation and implementing biosecurity measures to prevent further โspread. The outbreak has already prompted increased surveillance of dairy herds andโ the โคtesting โฃof โmilk forโ the presence of the virus.
Recent reports from dvm360 โhighlight a growing pattern of H5N1 exposure linkedโ to raw pet food, particularly โraw cat food. Several cat deaths have been reported following exposure to the โคvirus through contaminated raw pet food and unpasteurized milk,as noted โฃby Bautista-Alejandre โฃA. on โขJanuary 16, 2025.Further examination by the Washington State Department of Agricultureโ (WSDA) โคand Oregon โคDepartmentโฃ of โAgriculture โ(ODA) identifiedโค raw pet food as a source of bird flu infections,reported โฃby โฃMcCafferty C. on February 18, 2025. Subsequent recalls โคwere issued by cat food companies due to โH5N1 concernsโข (McCafferty C., March 18, 2025; McCafferty C., September 4, 2025).
Veterinarians are being โurged to be vigilant in evaluatingโข feline cases of H5N1,โ with recommendations focusing on โขrecognizing clinical โsigns and implementing appropriate biosecurity protocols (Bautista-Alejandre A., August 28, 2024). Cats are increasingly recognized as potentialโข indicators of H5N1 withinโ communities, andโ prompt response steps are crucial to mitigate spread (Thomson D,โข Bautista-Alejandre A.,August 12,2025).โ
Beyond domestic animals, avian influenza hasโค been detected in wild animal populations. Researchers โhaveโค found avian influenza in New York bobcats (coppock Crossley K., โคApril 3, 2025), demonstrating the virus’s ability โto spread beyond poultry and intoโ wildlife. The USDA is working with state and industry partners to implement enhanced biosecurity measures,including restricting movement of animals โand implementing testing protocols,to control the outbreak and โขprotect both animal and public health.