To curb the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Colorado recently implemented mandatory testing in the commercial dairy industry after several “spillover events” in which poultry was infected.

“We have been navigating this challenging, novel outbreak of HPAI in dairy operations for nearly three months in Colorado and have not been able to curb the spread of disease at this point,” said Maggie Baldwin, state veterinarian. “We have seen devastating impacts of this disease not only to our dairy industry, but our poultry industry as well. With the strong support of the dairy and poultry industries, we feel that this is the best next step in order to protect these vital industries in our state.”

Colorado has had two spillover events, confirmed through genomic sequencing, and one presumptive spillover event from dairy operations into commercial poultry operations that have resulted in the death and depopulation of more than 3.2 million domestic chickens in July, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The statewide surveillance will take place under the joint supervision of CDA and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with support from USDA and will remain until further notice by the Commissioner of Agriculture or State Veterinarian. Dairy producers will receive instructions, state officials said.

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During this time, all Colorado CDPHE licensed dairy cow facilities with lactating dairy cattle that produce products for human consumption will be required to submit weekly samples for testing. These samples will be collected by CDPHE-certified collection samplers and tested by the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Dairies currently under order of quarantine or order for testing are subject to those specific orders. This does not include raw milk facilities.

“We appreciate the ongoing cooperation and partnership with both the poultry and dairy industries,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “Mandatory surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza across all of Colorado’s Grade A commercial dairies is a critical next step to tamping down the virus and protecting the food system. Ongoing cooperation is key to supporting workers’ health and safety, protecting animal health and welfare, and minimizing the spread of the virus.”

Source: Colorado Department of Agriculture