KDA, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial dairy operations in Kansas. USDA has created a landing page with recent announcements pertaining to HPAI detections in livestock, as well as biosecurity, testing information, and other resources. 

USDA: HPAI Detections in Livestock 

The Kansas Animal Health Commissioner issued an order on April 22 that requires permitting for intrastate and interstate movement of dairy cattle. Find out more about that permitting here:

Kansas Permitting Requirements

News Release 3.25.2024: HPAI Detection in Kansas Dairy Herds

How can dairy producers help?
We continue to encourage all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their local veterinarian immediately if cattle appear infected. Symptoms are mostly restricted to late-stage lactating cows and include a drop in milk production, loss of appetite, and changes in manure consistency. We encourage dairy producers to practice good biosecurity measures to minimize wildlife access to their dairy cattle’s water and feed sources and to reduce movement onto and off the property.

See more about biosecurity practices below. 


Are there concerns about the milk supply?
At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control. In line with long-standing policy, the CDC does not recommend consuming unpasteurized milk or raw milk. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Dairies are also required to only allow milk from healthy animals to enter the food supply chain.

Biosecurity is another way of saying “infectious disease control.” Biosecurity is a combination of management practices designed to prevent the introduction and transmission of diseases into and throughout a herd. Infectious diseases can be transmitted by animals, people, equipment and vehicles. Click here for additional information not provided below.