Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has announced new intrastate testing requirements for lactating dairy cattle participating in livestock exhibitions within the state. This measure aims to minimize the spread of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Although there are currently no reported cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle in Illinois, 12 other states have confirmed cases. Consequently, the IDOA is implementing these precautions out of an abundance of caution. The testing requirements will apply to lactating dairy cattle exhibited at county fairs, the Illinois State Fair, Du Quoin State Fair, and any other livestock exhibitions held in Illinois.

The IDOA outlined the following testing requirements:

- All lactating dairy cattle must test negative for Influenza A virus (IAV) before arriving at any livestock exhibition in Illinois.

- Testing must be conducted by a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory. The University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is one such NAHLN laboratory.

- Animals must be sampled no more than seven calendar days prior to their arrival at the exhibition.

- Negative test results must accompany the animals to the exhibition. The animal identification tag must match the identification on the test results.

- If one animal in a herd tests positive, no other animals from that herd will be permitted to attend exhibitions for at least 30 days.

- If any animal from a herd has not been tested, all animals from that herd will be ineligible for exhibition.

- All positive tests must be reported to IDOA.

"The safety of our State Fair exhibitors and their animals is our number one concern," said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. "Our hope is to reduce the risk of disease by implementing these proactive measures."

These changes will take effect on July 17, 2024, and apply to all livestock exhibitions occurring on or after this date. For county fairs that begin before but end after July 17, testing will be required under specific conditions: if livestock arrive or are exhibited on or after July 17, they must meet testing requirements; if they were already exhibited before July 17, no further testing is required for that event.

The United States Department of Agriculture offers several financial assistance options for exhibitors, including waiving laboratory fees and assisting with veterinarian sample collection fees and shipping reimbursement.

"Our best defense against animal disease is biosecurity," stated Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA state veterinarian. "We are committed to working closely with all stakeholders - from veterinarians and testing labs to exhibitors and fair managers - to identify and implement best practices to limit or prevent the spread of disease."

For additional information including an FAQ document covering approved labs in Illinois and guidance on obtaining tests and associated costs, please visit agr.illinois.gov.