Michigan pays dairy farmers compensation for bird flu victims

Since March 29, 24 dairy farms in Michigan have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The state’s dairy farmers are facing unprecedented challenges, says Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, who recently announced emergency funding to advance research into the disease and help farms recover.

In exchange for cooperation with federal and state authorities in investigating the source of infection on their farms, the state will offer up to 20 HPAI-infected farms $28,000 each for full epidemiological investigations and real-time longitudinal studies of their dairy herds.

This assistance is in addition to the funding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) already provides to dairy farms in Michigan affected by HPAI.

With a focus on containing the spread of HPAI, Michigan is taking a “One Health” approach, Boring said, working with federal, state and local partners to quickly address both animal and community health issues.

Three USDA emergency management teams were on site assisting the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) with daily response at all affected poultry operations across the state. A USDA epidemiology team was also deployed to assist with tracing and investigation of dairy herds and to provide real-time information.

“Our HPAI-affected farms have been incredibly collaborative in Michigan’s One Health approach to combating this disease,” Boring says.

Here is the story in Michigan:

Unlike poultry, which contract the disease relatively quickly and must be culled if even a single animal on a farm tests positive, the disease is almost never fatal in dairy cows. According to MDARD, these symptoms can include fever, sticky stools, abnormal milk production and a decrease in production.

HPAI-positive animals are isolated in sick pens and possibly treated with antibiotics and fluids, while their milk is diverted from the supply chain.

However, because the virus is passed between species (there are nearly 30 confirmed animal species), there are concerns that mutations could make it transmissible between humans (not currently) and potentially cause a pandemic.

Two dairy workers have recovered from the virus in Michigan, bringing the total in the U.S. to four. Currently, the CDC considers the risk of HPAI infection to the general population to be low. HPAI is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans, but it does not infect humans as easily and does not currently spread easily between people, the CDC reports.

USDA and MDARD officials say there is no cause for concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply because the products are pasteurized before being released to market without activating bacteria and viruses.

On May 1, Boring signed a “Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency” to further protect Michigan’s poultry and livestock industries from the ongoing threat of HPAI. Michigan’s order complements the USDA’s federal order issued on April 24.

To sign up for HPAI alerts, go to michigan.gov/birdflu or to find additional information about MDARD’s ongoing response efforts.

Information on protecting domestic flocks

New information, “How to keep you and your flock healthy – information on bird fluMichigan State University Extension has published a guide with concrete practices that backyard poultry farmers and other poultry enthusiasts can implement to reduce the risk of disease transmission to their poultry flocks.

In this information, you’ll learn what HPAI is and how it spreads, what symptoms appear in infected birds and humans, what simple methods farmers can use to reduce the risk of disease in their flock, and what to do if you suspect birds are infected with HPAI.