Prairie State Wire

While no cases have been reported in Illinois, federal agencies have confirmed the presence of the H5N1 influenza virus in dairy herds across eight states. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are actively monitoring the situation. They are coordinating with producer groups and partner organizations to educate veterinarians and cattle farmers on recognizing clinical signs of H5N1 influenza for prompt identification and containment.

Starting Monday, April 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will enforce mandatory testing for interstate movement of dairy cattle and require reporting of positive results to control disease spread.

"While we have no confirmed cases in Illinois, what we have seen in other states is that affected dairy animals are recovering with very low mortality rates," stated Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. "These additional safety protocols are being implemented out of an abundance of caution, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the risk to humans is low."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assures that commercial milk remains safe due to pasteurization, which eliminates bacteria and viruses. Protocols ensure milk from affected animals is destroyed.

"IDPH prioritizes the safety of our milk supply as well as the Illinoisans who work with cattle and poultry," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "Please note that pasteurized milk is safe, but we strongly recommend that Illinoisans avoid any unpasteurized raw milk products at this time based on the potential risk of infection."

Illinois hosts over 600 dairy farms with approximately 73,000 cows or calves according to USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service estimates.