The US Department of Agriculture has confirmed milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds.

Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans, which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.

Federal agencies are working with state and industry partners to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly so that it can monitor potential additional cases and minimise the impact to farmers, consumers and other animals.

Share this story: