A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, has been identified in a goat on a Stevens County farm in Minnesota, marking the first instance of the virus in domestic cattle, sheep, goats, or their relatives in the U.S. The goat was living on a farm that already had bird flu-infected poultry, and all animals on the property have been quarantined.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is working with the Dept. of Agriculture to investigate the transmission of the virus from the poultry to the goat. While mammals are considered dead-end hosts for HPAI and unlikely to spread the virus further, precautions are being taken to minimize the risk to the public.
In response to the detection, the MDH has provided guidance on personal protective equipment and is monitoring the health of individuals in direct contact with the infected goats. Anyone experiencing respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms after exposure to the goats may be tested for avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens.
This finding underscores the potential for HPAI to infect other animals on farms with multiple species. The Dept. of Agriculture emphasizes the need for rapid response to HPAI due to its contagious nature and fatal consequences for poultry. While millions of birds have been slaughtered due to the national outbreak, the risk of infection from infected goats remains low.
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