Avian flu has spread to cattle in the United States this spring without reaching New England. Maine’s state offices and dairy producers said Tuesday they are watchful and taking measures to make sure it doesn’t.
The illness affecting wild birds was detected in Maine in 2022 and appeared in cattle in the central United States earlier this year. The federal government has been tracking its spread. No outbreaks in cattle have been confirmed in Maine or New England as of April 25.
Maine’s dairy cattle farmers are “certainly concerned,” said Sarah Littlefield, who represents all 145 farms in the state as the executive director of the Maine Dairy Promotion Board. If there were disruption in the industry here, dairy processors, milk drivers, farm suppliers, nutritionists and veterinarians would also be affected, she said.
“We know that we live in a big system, and we’re all trying to make sure that we’re watching what’s happening in other parts of the country,” she said.
A federal order that took effect April 29 requires a negative test for avian flu before lactating dairy cattle can be moved across state lines anywhere in the country.
Farmers whose cattle test positive will need to provide tracing information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Regulations for non-lactating cattle are still in development.
Remnants of the virus were found in commercial milk last week, though the administration said that is not a risk to humans when milk is pasteurized. The administration did not specify the origin of the tested samples.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not sure yet whether the virus can be transmitted to humans through raw milk. It believes the commercial milk supply is safe.
Raw milk and milk products are legal for state-licensed producers to sell in Maine. It is not legal on the federal level, meaning the organization leaves regulation up to each state.
Milk production is regulated here by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Department staff are analyzing federal updates and working with organizations in Maine and at the federal level, according to spokesperson Jim Britt. Updates are available on the department’s website.
Farmers are also heightening biosecurity measures, or actions to reduce disease risks on farms. The milk promotion board recently canceled school field trips to a dairy farm and is holding in-school visits, for one.
Littlefield is studying guidance as it develops and members are preparing for whatever the next step might be, she said.
Dairy farmers are already used to taking safety measures like sanitation protocols, temperature monitoring and discarding milk from sick cows.
“Anyone who’s producing milk is very well aware that they’re producing a food product,” she said.
She recommends smaller producers and herd owners learn from a veterinarian how to identify signs of avian flu in their cattle.
Cattle owners should also increase biosecurity, Britt said, including regular sanitation, limiting visitors and avoiding exposure to wild birds. The department is working to supply personal protective equipment for dairies that ask for it.
