(Updated as of June 17, 2024)
Act now! Cyber Alert to Farms and Processors
Government agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have issued a joint alert to agriculture/farming to take the following immediate actions:
Check automated systems networks
Change default passwords
Reduce access to the systems
Use multi-factor authentication at logins whenever possible.
Need a digital biosecurity plan? BIO-ISAC can help with network reviews and system software updates to address this alert. To schedule your site, email help@isac.bio.
If you require assistance in anonymously reporting incidents involving your facility, please contact help@isac.bio or submit here: https://www.isac.bio/bioag.
Active Situation
Impacted Dairy Herds
105 dairy herds in 12 states have tested positive for H5N1/HPAI: CO (10), IA (6), ID (23), KS (4), MI (25), MN (3), NC (1), NM (8), OH (1), SD (5), TX (18), WY (1)
HPAI/H5N1 Spread
The virus known as H5N1 or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed by USDA March 25, 2024 to be found in cattle in the United States. As of April 1, 2024, human transmission of H5N1 is confirmed from cows to at least one human in Texas. A full review of this case was published May 3, 2024 by the New England Journal of Medicine, includes graphic images. Veterinarians going on calls to farms are reporting seeing sick workers.
Why does this matter? H5N1 in dairy cows increases the risk of increased transmission to humans. Working to stop the virus from spreading and further changing how it works, is important for all of us. Researchers from 11 veterinary academic research centers, including staff at the USDA, studied the spread rates of H5N1 identified in dairy cows. (Preprint May 1)
"Continued transmission of H5N1 HPAI within dairy cattle increases the risk for infection and subsequent spread of the virus to human populations."
Understanding spread. Michigan State Extension documented a 15-day window of H5N1 infecting cows starting May 1. Farms are asked to contact CDC directly (or their veterinarians) if people or animals are sick to support research into the spread of H5N1.
Wastewater Surveillance
Wastewater testing tracks community health and monitors for Influenza A. Surveillance testing does NOT detail which type of Influenza A, which means it does not tell us if it is H5N1. In June 2024, Wastewater SCAN evaluated Influenza A results and confirmed H5N1 in five states, all with active infections in cows: TX, MI, MN, IA, and ID.
Consumer Goods
Sick cows, and the milk from sick cows, is required to be blocked from entering the food supply. Dairy farms are strongly encouraged to heat treat milk from sick cows. Federal agencies and researchers continue to test the safety of our food supply.
Pasteurized Dairy Products
FDA confirmed the presence of H5N1 virus in pasteurized store-bought milk, through PCR testing (April 23, 2024). USDA later confirmed one in five tested store-bought milk samples was positive. FDA released data from testing 297 samples of pasteurized consumer dairy products from 132 processing locations in 38 states (not necessarily the state where it was produced). FDA has stated the pasteurized milk supply is safe.
In findings shared with Science May 1, 2024, researchers from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Ohio State University tested the store-bought milk samples that tested as having H5N1 to see if it would be capable of creating live virus infecting cells. The tests demonstrated the milk in stores is not capable of infecting cells.
Raw Milk
FDA has stated consumers should not consume raw milk or cheese from raw milk.
In June 2024, researchers evaluated the success of heat treatment used in pasteurization against raw milk infected with H5N1. Results, published in JAMA, show infectious virus was found in the milk samples, following heat treatment. On June 6, 2024, FDA issued a letter asking for better surveillance of raw milk products at the local level.
Beef
USDA/APHIS tested 30 samples of store bought beef for H5N1, none tested positive. USDA reaffirmed the meat supply chain as safe.
USDA/APHIS bought ground beef, confirmed it was not infected with H5N1, and injected the 30 samples with an H5N1 virus surrogate (something similar to actual H5N1, but not it). Burgers that were cooked to 145 degrees and 160 degrees Fahrenheit did not have the virus identified after heating. The USDA has (always had) a minimum safe temperature chart. Grab your meat thermometer and test your meat before you eat!
Resources
CDC, EPA, FDA, and USDA@APHIS have updated materials and messages.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published a technical review of the tested human specimen. CDC has also updated its recommendations to farm workers, clinicians, and industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of disinfectants effective against Avian Influenzas and asks dairy farms and other individuals interacting with those livestock potentially at risk of spreading H5N1 to verify the effectiveness of disinfectants AND the proper contact time for use.
Note! Disinfectant users may need to convert contact time recommendations from minutes (on the product label) to seconds to ensure efficacy. "List M" details the proper contact times.
The Food and Drug Administration has published an FAQ guide regarding milk safety and HPAI outbreaks.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released $824 million in emergency funding related to H5N1.
USDA also released FAQs regarding the detection of HPAI/H5N1 in Dairy Herds:
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed active testing of dairy products and have not identified a problem. FAO/WHO/WOAH issued a joint preliminary assessment calling for expanded surveillance, rapid data sharing, and screening for H5N1/Influenza A in clinics.
Dairy Farmers: Act Now!
Immediately update and/or produce a written biosecurity plan. If you need a place to start, the Center for Dairy Excellence in PA has an Everyday Biosecurity Kit to help your efforts and hosted a webinar to discuss the tools and use.
Include digital biosecurity in that written biosecurity plan. Do a network check and software/system updates, and train ALL workers on identifying suspicious emails.
Note! If you need a place to start, please contact help@isac.bio. We will do it for you and prepare you for the future!
A Note on Misinformation Campaigns
Unfortunately, online conversations face misinformation campaigns, efforts to control direct narratives on hot issues with incorrect or misleading information.
H5N1 has caused noisy conversations, with some data points blurred at the hands of "armchair" statisticians. Confusing representations of wastewater testing data and other not-best analyses are already misleading anxiety levels and conversations about individual safety. Not sure about something? Send us an email and we will check it out.
For more about misinformation detection, check out Cranky Uncle!
BIO-ISAC has been in contact with several farms offering support. If you require assistance in reporting incidents involving your facility anonymously, please contact help@isac.bio or submit here: https://www.isac.bio/bioag.