Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

H5N1 Avian Flu hits California dairy hard

Nov 28, 2024
By Farms.com

Widespread H5N1 cases in US dairy and poultry

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced significant increases in H5N1 avian flu cases among dairy cattle and poultry in the United States.

With 25 new outbreaks in California alone, the state's dairy industry is facing unprecedented challenges, affecting over one-third of its dairy farms.

These outbreaks are part of a broader national issue, with the US now recording 675 infected dairy herds across 15 states since March. 

The virus has also infiltrated large poultry farms in California and elsewhere, adding to the strain on the country's largest dairy-producing state.

On the poultry side, new outbreaks include a backyard flock in Alaska and a sizable commercial turkey operation in Minnesota, demonstrating the virus's reach and the critical need for vigilance and biosecurity measures across all types of animal farming operations.

In a closely related public health concern, a recall was issued for raw milk in Los Angeles County after H5N1 was detected in a sample from Raw Farm.

Local health officials have moved quickly to mitigate any further risk to consumers, with inspections ongoing at affected retail locations to remove the potentially contaminated milk.

These developments reflect the growing impact of H5N1 avian flu on both agricultural industries and public health, underscoring the need for continued aggressive response efforts to control the spread of the virus and safeguard the nation’s food supply and public health.


Trending Video

Better Farming Ontario - Proudly Serving the World's Best Farmers for Over 25 Years

Video: Better Farming Ontario - Proudly Serving the World's Best Farmers for Over 25 Years


For over 25 years, Ontario Federation of Agriculture members have trusted Better Farming as a source for information to help them farm profitably, with insights and best practices for cash cropping, soil health, pest and weed control, livestock, and farm business management.

Watch this video to learn more about Better Farming and its relationship with producers across Ontario.

Message from Better Farming:

To our OFA farming readers, thank you for your time and your trust, for 25 years now. We look forward to continuing the journey with you.