TOPEKA, Ind. – A recent USDA epidemiologic study of dairy farms infected with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza found a number of vulnerabilities related to biosecurity and daily practices. In light of the study, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) hosted a meeting July 11 for farmers, haulers, veterinarians and service providers to share updates on the situation.

As of press time, H5N1 has not been confirmed in dairy herds in Indiana. More than 1,500 tests have been performed. Nationally, the first case of H5N1 in dairy cattle was found in Texas in March. To date, USDA reported confirmed cases in 12 states, including Iowa, Michigan and Ohio.

About 50 producers attended the meeting at the Topeka Livestock Auction facility. The producers asked several good questions, such as if there is a vaccine in the works, Denise Derrer Spears, BOAH public information director, told Farm World. The answer is yes, but nothing is available yet. They asked if testing is required for Indiana State Fair exhibitors. That answer is also yes, but only for those from out of state, she said.

The goal of the meeting was “to raise awareness among farmers, milk haulers and others who visit dairy farms about ways they can reduce the risk of carrying disease-causing particles from one farm to another,” Spears said prior to the meeting.

In the USDA study, 44 percent of those surveyed indicated they shared vehicles with another farm to move cattle, but only 27 percent cleaned that vehicle prior to use. “That alone is an important protective step that every farmer could adopt,” she noted.

“Our goal is to help producers think through practices and do-able ways to step up biosecurity on their farms,” Spears explained. “Our main message is for everyone going on and off of farms – workers, families, nutritionists, renderers, haulers, any visitor – to take a moment for biosecurity. Think – hands, feet and vehicles are potential vectors.”

BOAH urged workers and visitors to wash or sanitize their hands before and after contact with cows, milk or milking equipment. They also suggest dedicating a pair of footwear to the barn that stays in the barn. Or, wear disposable boot covers. The agency said wheel wells on vehicles should be cleaned and disinfected. Keep the floor boards clean by removing soiled shoes, and as much as possible, park away from areas where cows, manure, feed and milk are located.

Biosecurity is more important than ever to prevent disease transmission, Spears pointed out.

BOAH has created a chart with what she called basic, easy-to-adopt biosecurity measures that focus primarily on hands, feet and vehicles or transportation. To view the information, visit www.in.gov/boah/files/Dairy-Farm-Biosecurity-Chart-July-2024.pdf

If the virus were to be found in the state, BOAH has a lot of experience with it in poultry, Dr. Bret D. Marsh, Indiana state veterinarian, told Farm World. “The plan we have developed for dairies is very similar, but recognizes that the disease behaves differently in poultry versus cows. Testing continues to be required for all lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines, per the April 29 USDA Federal Order. Samples that are not negative are forwarded to the USDA national laboratory for confirmatory testing.”

If a herd in Indiana were to test positive, lactating dairy cattle from that herd would not be eligible for interstate movement for 30 days, he said. The cattle would be barred from exhibition.

“All epidemiologically linked Indiana-licensed Grade A dairy cattle farms that have received lactating dairy cattle within 30 days prior to confirmation will be sampled,” Marsh noted. “A 10-km surveillance zone will be established around the confirmed herd and all licensed Grade A dairies will be tested. Sampling in the surveillance zone will continue every 28 days as long as the index herd is considered a confirmed positive.”

Testing would be conducted via bulk tank milk samples, he added.

In addition, commercial poultry farms located within the surveillance zone would be notified by BOAH, and sampled every 28 days.

BOAH’s team has participated in weekly calls with other state animal health officials to share the latest information on the virus, Spears said.

“We’ve been very concerned about the number of cases Michigan has had, because of the geographic proximity and the amount of interstate business Hoosiers do with our neighbors,” she said. “However, cases in Michigan have mostly dropped off in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Colorado has had an uptick recently. We hope USDA’s continued epi work will give us more insights about what is happening elsewhere.”