Michigan battles new bird flu strain impacting dairy and poultry

By Andi Anderson

Michigan is struggling with a new strain of bird flu that has spread through its dairy and poultry farms, prompting state officials to update lawmakers on their containment efforts.

The outbreak, first identified in Michigan dairy cows in April, has now been reported in 11 states and various counties across Michigan, with the latest case confirmed in Clinton County on June 7.

Tim Boring, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), shared insights during a recent committee meeting about the ongoing collaboration with federal officials to manage the crisis.

"There’s still so much we don’t know. We need to operate under the auspice that every farm is positive," Boring stated, emphasizing the widespread nature of the outbreak.

Dr. Nora Wineland, Michigan’s State Veterinarian, indicated that transmission could be occurring via shared workers or equipment as some farms were not receiving new cattle when outbreaks occurred.

Despite extensive investigations, a direct source of the virus has not been pinpointed.

The economic stakes are high, with Michigan’s dairy industry worth $15.7 billion and the poultry sector valued at $8.5 billion annually. Infected cattle have shown decreased milk production, some of which have not returned to previous levels, necessitating culling in certain cases.

The Michigan Allied Poultry Industries has criticized the state’s response, advocating for a 30-day quarantine of affected dairy herds and restrictions on farm movements to curb the spread. They highlighted that nearly 30 percent of infected herds in 12 states are in Michigan, underscoring the severity of the state's situation.

 In response, Boring assured that over 200 MDARD staff, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are working to depopulate infected flocks and herds, disinfect facilities, and help farms resume operations quickly.

New biosecurity measures are also in development, focusing on improved record-keeping, secure farm areas, and enhanced cleaning protocols.

"We’re working with dairy farmers to prioritize the most important actions first. As we learn more every day, we’ll continue to improve and provide further guidance and recommendations," Boring concluded, highlighting the dynamic approach being taken to manage the outbreak and mitigate its impact on Michigan’s vital agricultural sectors.

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