By Jamie Martin
A coalition of state agriculture and animal health officials is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a voluntary vaccination program to help control highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cattle.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) have asked USDA to authorize a national emergency vaccination framework for dairy herds.
The organizations delivered their request to USDA on Nov. 5, arguing that vaccination could give farmers and state animal health officials another tool for controlling HPAI while the United States works toward ultimately eradicating the virus from dairy cattle.
Their proposal calls for the program to begin with a limited pilot involving states willing to participate before potentially expanding to a broader national framework.
“The dairy industry must have effective tools to combat HPAI,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said.
Current surveillance measures have played an important role in detecting the virus, McKinney said, but officials believe disease-control efforts should also include veterinary countermeasures.
Officials Point to Continued Dairy Cases
HPAI H5N1 was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in 2024. Since then, more than 1,200 dairy farms across 20 states have recorded confirmed infections, according to NASDA and NASAHO.
The organizations are also concerned about transmission between livestock operations.
Their letter to USDA says at least 17 states have experienced commercial poultry losses associated with HPAI transmission linked to nearby infected dairy cattle.
NASAHO President Dr. Alex Hamberg said the virus remains a significant threat to animal health, the U.S. food supply and agricultural commerce.
State and veterinary officials need access to as many disease-management tools as possible to help farmers protect dairy cattle and poultry, he said.
Vaccination Would Complement Existing Measures
Vaccination would not replace the disease-control practices already being used on dairy farms.
Instead, NASDA and NASAHO envision vaccines as one part of a larger strategy incorporating surveillance, biosecurity, animal movement management, identification and traceability.
USDA currently requires testing of lactating dairy cattle before interstate movement. Federal measures also require additional HPAI testing and reporting in livestock and milk, while the National Milk Testing Strategy provides a nationwide system for monitoring the virus.
Those measures would remain important even if USDA moves ahead with a vaccination program.
The proposal also calls for vaccination to remain voluntary, allowing state animal health officials to determine whether it should be used alongside other HPAI-control measures.
HPAI Creates Wider Economic Concerns
Officials say continued circulation of HPAI could have consequences extending well beyond infected dairy farms.
Persistent outbreaks can affect animal health, commercial poultry operations, agricultural supply chains and international market access.
NASDA and NASAHO also warned that allowing the virus to become endemic in U.S. livestock could create longer-term risks for dairy and poultry producers while contributing to concerns about the cost and availability of dairy, beef, egg and poultry products.
The commercial U.S. milk supply remains safe for consumers.
The groups say their vaccination proposal is intended to reduce transmission, strengthen animal disease control and support the longer-term goal of eliminating HPAI from U.S. dairy cattle.
USDA has not yet authorized the vaccination framework requested by the two organizations.
For dairy producers, the next steps will be important. If USDA moves forward, officials would still need to address how a pilot vaccination program would operate, where it would be implemented, how vaccinated cattle would be monitored and how vaccination would interact with interstate movement, disease surveillance and international trade.
Until then, dairy producers remain subject to existing federal HPAI testing, reporting and movement requirements.
Photo: Pexels – Mark Stebnicki
Categories: National