"Avian Flu Outbreak: Impact on Dairy Herds and Human Health"

Avian flu has been confirmed in a South Dakota dairy herd, marking the first case in the state but one of several in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control reassures the safety of the commercial milk supply and consumer health, emphasizing the importance of pasteurization in inactivating bacteria and viruses in milk. Dairy operators are advised to monitor their herds and enforce biosecurity plans, as symptoms in dairy cattle include decreased lactation and low appetite. The infections in dairy milk have been linked to wild birds due to the contaminated environment from waterfowl migration.