By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO (Reuters) -Cows at three dairy farms in California, the largest U.S. milk-producing state, have tested positive for bird flu, the state’s agriculture department said on Friday.
The infections extend a U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle to 14th. More than 190 flocks nationwide have been infected since March, along with 13 workers on dairy and poultry farms, according to federal data.
The virus’s jump to cows from birds has heightened concerns that it could adapt to spread among humans. Federal officials say bird flu poses a low risk to the general public and that pasteurization inactivates the virus in milk.
No human cases have been confirmed in California, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said in a statement. The infected dairy herd, located in the state’s Central Valley region, began showing symptoms on Aug. 25, the statement said.
Infected cows often temporarily suffer from reduced milk production.
“This is a difficult time for our dairy farmers given the economic challenges they face,” said California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross.
“We are approaching this incident with the utmost urgency.”
The infected dairies have been quarantined, the state agriculture department said. Sick cows are isolated and treated at the farms, while healthy cows are cleared to continue sending milk for pasteurization, the department said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture previously said it was conducting testing to confirm the cases in California. USDA said it is in close contact with the California Department of Food and Agriculture as part of efforts to contain the virus.
