How did H5N1 bird flu get introduced to California’s dairy industry?
LA TimesExperts say it was bound to happen: The H5N1 bird flu that ravaged dairy herds in 13 states was inevitably going to arrive in California. At the end of July or early August, a dairy farmer in Tulare County reportedly sold some of his cows to a farmer in Idaho, which had been reporting infected cattle herds since early April. However, he did say genetic sequencing of the virus detected in California is “most similar to the strain found in cattle in the state of Idaho.” Sydney Kennedy, a spokesperson for Idaho’s Department of Agriculture, seemed aware of the story. And although she would not speculate about where in the interstate transfer the virus was introduced, she confirmed that earlier this summer “an Idaho dairy received a shipment of cattle from California that were not accepted at the facility.” She said when that happens, “it is up to each hauler or broker to understand and follow movement restrictions as they return to their home state or other destinations.” So, what are the rules? However, since the beginning of the outbreak, it has required a veterinary certification for all lactating dairy cows crossing state lines — certificates showing the animals tested negative for the bird flu within seven days of transfer.