Alarm Bells Ring as Bird Flu Hits Nebraska's Dairy Cattle

Nebraska is sounding the alarm after confirming its first-ever case of bird flu in a dairy cattle herd, just as a persistent 18-month nationwide outbreak continues to affect livestock. This revelation came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday.

Details on the Outbreak

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, reported that the highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in a herd located in central Nebraska. Immediate action was taken to quarantine the affected herd to prevent further spread.

An Ongoing National Concern

Although the number of new cases is slowing, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has now infiltrated over 1,000 herds across 17 states since it first appeared in dairy cows back in March 2024. Notable states experiencing outbreaks this year include Texas, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Michigan, and California.

Potential Risks to Humans

Experts from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories have indicated that the strain detected in Nebraska resembles one previously identified in California. Thankfully, with proper management, dairy cattle are likely to recover with minimal to no mortality. However, health experts caution that the ongoing transmission to dairy cattle and other mammals may suggest a worrying trend towards potential human transmission, a situation described by a microbiology professor at the University of Pennsylvania as a 'pandemic unfolding in slow motion'.

Human Infection Cases on the Rise

In total, at least 70 individuals have contracted the virus across the United States, with 41 exposures linked to dairy cows. Symptoms mimic those of the common flu, including fever, chills, body aches, sore throat, eye irritation, and fatigue.

Impact on Agriculture and Livestock

Wild birds are the primary carriers of the virus, but it can also infect poultry, livestock, and various mammals, including goats and opossums. Early this year, an outbreak in chickens triggered a significant egg shortage. The dairy industry warns that infections can decrease milk production by about 20%.

Farmers and Care Providers at Risk

The individuals most vulnerable to infection include farmers and animal caretakers, like veterinarians, who come into contact with infected animals or their products. In a tragic incident earlier this year, a backyard flock keeper in Louisiana died after contracting the virus's D1.1 variant, marking the first human death from bird flu in the U.S.