Arizona reports wastewater detection; more avian influenza confirmed in U.S. dairy and poultry flocks

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed that 12 additional cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been detected in the United States. dairy cowAll came from California, as additional outbreaks in poultry were confirmed across four states.

The new cases were detected in dairy cows in California, where an outbreak has continued since late August, bringing the total to 697 in the state and 912 in 16 states nationwide.

Most of California's dairy cattle outbreaks have affected herds in the Central Valley, but an outbreak was recently confirmed in the southern part of the state, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. emergency situation The move was made on Dec. 18 to free up more resources to fight the virus in dairy cows, poultry, and people who have been exposed to sick animals or contaminated products.

Poultry outbreak also includes large spawning grounds in Ohio

Among the newly confirmed mass infections, poultryIn three of the four states, detections were higher on commercial farms, including an egg farm in Darke County, Ohio, which houses about 1 million birds. The incident marked the second detection of H5N1 infection in the state this month.

Elsewhere, the virus has hit a broiler farm in Sacramento County, California, housing about 154,000 birds. In Michigan, the virus has been found at another turkey farm in Ottawa County, the second case in a week. The facility houses 75,500 birds.

The virus continues to hit backyard birds, with the latest incident involving a flock of 70 birds at a location in Pemiscot County, Missouri.

USDA tweaks poultry coverage requirements

In a related development, APHIS today announced Updates conditions for poultry facilities to receive compensation and reimbursement if their flock tests positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Recognizing the importance of strong biosecurity measures as a tool to combat viruses in poultry, the organization is now requiring farmers to undergo biosecurity audits before stocking poultry and receiving future compensation. He said it is mandatory.

Despite federal, state, local, and industry support, some farms continue to face biosecurity challenges, with some farms experiencing multiple outbreaks, APHIS said .

APHIS has made payments to more than 1,200 producers since 2022, when the H5N1 virus outbreak began in U.S. poultry. Of these, 67 facilities have had at least two outbreaks, and 18 have had three or more outbreaks. APHIS said reinfected people have received more than $365 million of the approximately $1.1 billion in compensation paid so far.

Maricopa County reports wastewater detection

Arizona's Maricopa CountyThe region, which includes Phoenix, announced today that wastewater monitoring has detected avian influenza, but no human cases. The H5 subtype was detected in all three Maricopa County cities that conduct wastewater monitoring: Phoenix, Surprise, and Tempe. However, it added that the exact location of the source could not be confirmed.

Earlier this month, the virus was detected at a poultry farm in Pinal County, as well as in backyard flocks and zoos in Maricopa County. Genetic analysis of the virus found in both Arizona counties suggests that the virus is related to genotypes circulating in wild birds, and that it is circulating in dairy cattle, which has never been detected in Arizona. The genotype is different from that of the

“We're thrilled to be working with Maricopa Public Health,” said Nick Staab, MD, MSPH, assistant medical director for the Maricopa Department of Public Health. “Given that there have been no confirmed human cases in Maricopa County using other disease detection methods, and there is no recent record of human spread of H5N1 influenza,” the overall risk of avian influenza to humans is It remains low. ”