AA/Tunisia/Nadia Chahed
Texas agriculture authorities announced on Wednesday that a contagious strain of bird flu had been detected in cows on dairy farms in Texas and Kansas, French media reported.
This is the first time that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been reported in animals of this type in the United States, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), details the daily.
These positive samples were taken from unpasteurized milk collected in Kansas and one from Texas dairy farms, the same media reported.
According to Texas authorities, the cattle had flu-like symptoms and produced milk that was colored. Cows may have been contaminated by migratory birds. “Additional efforts are underway to continue epidemiological investigations to ensure a full picture of the situation is assessed,” TDA said.
Tests have not revealed any changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, and the risk to the public “remains minimal.” In addition, highly pathogenic avian influenza was not detected in any cattle, the same source specifies.
Until now, cows were not considered to be particularly susceptible to avian influenza. This discovery in Texas and Kansas could be a turning point in this epidemic. Especially since it was preceded, on March 20, by the discovery of a contaminated goat in Minnesota, on a farm where there were infected birds. It was the first case of tainted cattle in the United States, Les Echos recalled.
Source: AA
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