Bird Flu Confirmed in Two Yakima County Dairy Herds, a First for Washington Livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on October 8 that H5N1 bird flu has been detected in two dairy herds in Yakima County — the first cases in Washington livestock and the 19th state affected since the outbreak began in March 2024, Capital Press reported.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the detections. Both farms have been quarantined under strict biosecurity. State officials stressed that pasteurized milk remains safe and that the milk supply is not at risk.
The Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State University have conducted more than 7,000 surveillance tests over two years — all negative until now. Genetic sequencing is underway to determine the strain.
Symptoms in cows include reduced milk production and thickened, yellowish milk. Rick Naerebout of the Washington State Dairy Federation said affected cows typically recover in about six weeks, with milk output dropping 10 to 15 percent during illness.
Washington's dairy industry is concentrated in the Yakima Valley and Whatcom County. Federal animal health officials say the virus spreads among cattle primarily through contaminated milking equipment and the movement of animals. The state veterinarian's office has opened a hotline for dairy farmers with questions about testing and biosecurity.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 奶牛群在牛舍饲喂，图片来源：sacratomato_hr / Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 2.0）
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