Bird flu detected in three California dairy herds, state says By Reuters

By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) -Cows at three dairy farms in California, the top U.S. milk-producing state, tested positive for bird flu, the state’s agriculture department said on Friday.

The infections expand a U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle to a 14th state. More than 190 herds have been infected nationally since March, along with 13 dairy and poultry farm workers, according to federal data.

The infected herds in California, located in the state’s Central Valley region, began showing symptoms of bird flu on Aug. 25, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said in a statement. No human cases have been confirmed in California, the statement said.

The virus’s jump to cows from birds has heightened concerns that it could adapt to spread among humans. Federal officials say bird flu is a low risk for the general public and that pasteurization inactivates the virus in milk.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said earlier it was conducting tests to confirm the possible cases of bird flu in California dairy cattle.

USDA said it is in close contact with the California Department of Food and Agriculture as part of efforts to contain the virus.