U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) U.S. Situation Update and CDC Activities 

H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary 

USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock 

USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza 

Federal Order Requiring Testing for and Reporting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in  Livestock – Published on April 24, 2024 – Effective on April 29, 2024

Reporting Disease

Georgia Reportable Animal Disease Form 

Resources on Consumption of Raw Milk 

FDA – The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk 

UC Davis – 1 in 5 Milk Samples From Grocery Stores Test Positive for Bird Flu. Why the FDA Says It’s Still Safe to Drink.

Federal Mandate for Interstate Premovement Testing – Main Points): On April 24, 2024, USDA APHIS issued a federal order mandating premovement testing of lactating dairy cattle moving interstate for HPAI and reporting of positive test results.

• Dairy cattle are required to be tested negative for HPAI prior to interstate movement.
• Samples are to be collected by an accredited veterinarian or a state licensed veterinarian or a sample collector authorized by the state animal health official.
• Testing must be done within 7 days of movement.
• Milk samples from all functioning quarters should be combined into one tube for submission. Samples should be collected from individual animals and submitted to a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory (E.g.: UGA Athens and Tifton Diagnostic Labs).
• Samples from thirty animals must be tested for a group or lot with more than 30 animals. If the number of animals per lot is less than 30, all animals from the lot must be tested.

Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia

Read the full memo here

The most recent development in the ongoing and devastating HPAI outbreaks is the detection of HPAI in dairy cattle. On March 25, 2024, APHIS announced the detection of HPAI in dairy cattle in Texas and since then the disease has spread to dairy cattle in other states. So far, nine states (Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Michigan, Idaho, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Colorado) have reported outbreaks in dairy cattle affecting more than thirty-six herds. Virus transmission to dairy cattle has been reported to be due to a single spill-over event from wild birds followed by lateral spread of disease. Cattle to cattle and cattle to poultry transmission of the virus from infected dairy herds have been indicated based on genetic and epidemiological data analysis. Cats and peridomestic animals associated with infected dairy herds were also reported to be affected by HPAI. Death of domestic cats fed on raw colostrum and milk from infected cows was reported from Texas in March 2024.  Unpasteurized or spilled milk can act as a source of infection to susceptible animals. Though the risk of human infection is generally low, people exposed to infected birds or animals could be at a greater risk.

What to look for: The infection in dairy cattle could be asymptomatic, or symptomatic with mild illness. The incubation period varies from 12 to 21 days. The main clinical signs are decreased feed intake or anorexia, reduced rumen motility, drop in milk production, changes in milk quality (thicker or colostrum-like milk or no milk), decreased rumination, and occasional fever. Other clinical signs may include respiratory signs, abnormal sticky or loose feces, dehydration, and lethargy.

Who to contact: If you suspect HPAI in a dairy herd or in any other animals or birds, please contact the GDA Animal Health team at 404-656-3667.

For movement testing, milk samples are to be collected by a Georgia licensed, accredited veterinarian. If you need assistance with sample collection, please contact GA Milk Producers at 229-221-3906 or the GDA Animal Health team at 404-656-3667.

Where to send samples for testing: The Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories at Athens and Tifton location are committed to assisting the dairy industry with HPAI testing for interstate movement and clinical diagnostic testing.

Samples can be submitted to the Athens Lab at:

 501 D.W. Brooks Dr.

Athens, Georgia 30602

Or the Tifton Lab at:

 43 Brighton Rd./P.O. Box 1389

Tifton, GA 31793