As concerns about the expanding spread of avian flu in dairy cows escalate, several states have imposed restrictions on cattle imports.
Maryland joined at least 18 states on Wednesday in limiting interstate movement of dairy cattle as the virus extends beyond the Southwest, affecting herds across multiple states.
Kevin Atticks, Maryland’s agriculture secretary, emphasized the importance of protecting the state’s robust dairy and cattle genetics industry, stating, “This order serves as an additional safeguard for our Maryland farmers and agricultural industry partners.”
Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not issued federal quarantine orders, its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is not advising states to detain cattle shipments.
However, the USDA strongly advises minimizing the movement of cattle as much as possible, with careful consideration of risk evaluation and integration of that risk into movement decisions, as stated in guidance published on April 2.
As per a tracker on the USDA’s website, the virus has appeared in over 20 dairy herds across seven states. Most recently, North Carolina confirmed its first detection in livestock.
Import restrictions vary by state, with most implementing quarantine measures for non-compliance. Maryland’s regulation prohibits the importation of dairy cattle from states with confirmed avian flu cases, except under specific conditions.
According to the USDA and FDA, there is currently no risk to the U.S. milk supply due in part to pasteurization, which effectively eliminates the virus. The likelihood of avian influenza transmission to the general public remains low. However, a farm worker in Texas recently tested positive for the virus after contact with infected cattle.
As avian flu spreads, key trading partners like Canada and Mexico are closely monitoring its impact on U.S. cattle. Symptoms in affected cattle can vary from reduced milk production and fever to loss of appetite and changes in milk consistency.
As a precautionary measure, Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has heightened passive surveillance and reinforced clinical inspections of cattle from the U.S.
States with dairy cattle restrictions include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
