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Illinois dairy herds still clean of HPAI; CDC ends emergency response

The director of commodities and food systems at the Illinois Farm Bureau says the state’s dairy herds have thus far remained free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Tasha Bunting tells Brownfield, “We did not have a single dairy that has tested positive for HPAI.”  She says, “The Illinois Department of Public Health is still sampling our bulk milk tanks, and to date, so far there has not been a single milk tank that has tested positive.”

She says it’s a credit to milk producers.

“Who put into action their biosecurity plan, trying to limit the exposure between the dairy herd and wildlife, so that the disease spread didn’t occur,” she says.

Bunting says there remains little risk to consumers, especially when dairy products are pasteurized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that it’s deactivating the agency’s emergency response to the H5N1 bird flu as animal infections are declining, and no human cases have been reported since February.  The CDC says it’s investigated 70 cases of H5N1 in humans, resulting in one death, since the emergency activation last April.  The agency will continue to monitor the situation and report data monthly. Animal detections will now only be reported on the USDA’s website.

AUDIO: Tasha Bunting – Illinois Farm Bureau