In a shocking development, a goat in Minnesota has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), making it the first case of bird flu in domestic cattle, sheep, goats, or their relatives in the United States.
The positive goat was found on a farm in Stevens County that was already dealing with bird flu infected poultry. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has since quarantined all species on the premises and is collaborating with the Department of Agriculture to investigate how the virus was transmitted.
State veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs explained that mammals like goats are considered dead-end hosts for HPAI and are unlikely to spread the disease further. The risk to the public is minimal, with infection mainly limited to those who have direct contact with infected animals.
HPAI is a serious and often fatal disease for chickens, requiring swift action to prevent its spread. The owner of the infected goat had alerted authorities about unusual deaths among newly kidded goats on their property, where a backyard poultry flock had been depopulated in February.
Testing at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed that one of the goat carcasses had tested positive for H5N1 HPAI. However, adult goats on the property showed no signs of the virus and had tested negative since March 11.
This is the first reported case of natural HPAI infection in goats, raising concerns about the potential impact on the livestock industry. The Minnesota Department of Health is closely monitoring the situation, providing recommendations for personal protective equipment and keeping a close eye on the health of those who had direct contact with the infected goats.
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