Vt. ag officials monitoring bird flu developments in dairy cows

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont agriculture officials are warning farmers to take extra precautions to prevent bird flu in cattle.

Six states are reporting outbreaks of avian flu in dairy cows. In Texas, one person was also diagnosed with bird flu, health officials said Monday.

Vermont state veterinarian Kristin Haas says biosecurity practices are already in place but it’s important for farmers to double down on their efforts. “Monitor for sick animals. If there is a sick animal, pull that animal aside where it can get appropriate special treatment, isolate that animal from the rest of the herd for instance. The good thing about this situation in dairy cattle is that they are recovering from this detection,” she said.

She says despite the findings, the risk to humans remains low.