USDA-APHIS is launching a voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program. The objective will be to evaluate risk factors associated with introduction of H5N1 into herds and to facilitate movement of dairy animals from and among non-infected herds.
Instead of the need to sample each animal to be moved across state lines, participating farms can sample bulk milk. Operators of dairy herds with three consecutive weekly negative surveillance results can participate in the program with herds enrolled from the beginning of June. It is presumed that the program will determine the prevalence of infection and provide data to gain an understanding of the factors associated with inter-herd transmission.
Effective June 6th the USDA has recorded 84 affected farms in 11 states with Iowa and Minnesota added to the list during the first week of June.