Mandiant a cybersecurity analytical company has revealed that the USDA Animal Health Emergency Reporting Diagnostic System (USAHERDS) has been illegally accessed by a cyber espionage group. The responsible entity identified as APT 41 is located in China and is presumably operating with official knowledge if not support.  It is assumed that USAHERDS was not the primary intent of the intrusion but was a portal to gain entry into state computer systems.  Mandiant warned Acclaim Systems, the developer of USAHERDS of a security vulnerability in late 2021.  The company has apparently installed a patch to restore security.

Mandiant claims that systems in at least 18 states may have been compromised by accessing USAHERDS.