Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were confirmed in dairy cows in Texas and Kansas, USA. This is the first time that HPAI has been detected in dairy cattle farms and only the second time it has been detected in a ruminant (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats). Earlier this month, H5N1 (a strain of HPAI) was found in goats in Minnesota, USA, on a farm where poultry first tested positive. The AVMA press release can be found here, and the USDA press release here.
The EFSA/ECDC AI overview report covering December 2023–March 2024 reported 227 HPAI outbreaks in domestic and 414 wild bird outbreaks across 26 countries in Europe. Compared to previous years, although still widespread, the overall number of HPAI virus detections in birds was significantly lower, possibly due to some level of flock immunity, resulting in reduced contamination of the environment, and a different composition of circulating A(H5N1) genotypes. Human infections with avian influenza fortunately remain rare. The risk of infection with currently circulating AI virus in Europe remains low for the general population and low to moderate for those exposed to infected animals in the EU/EEA.
