USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 genotype D1.1 in dairy cattle through whole genome sequencing.
This discovery followed state investigations and testing under the National Milk Testing Strategy. USDA continues working with Nevada officials to study and contain the virus. While this genotype was previously found in wildlife and poultry, it is new to dairy cattle.
A dairy worker in Nevada was infected with a new variant of bird flu, marking the state’s first human case of H5N1 avian influenza. The Central Nevada Health District confirmed the worker was exposed to the D1.1 strain after handling infected dairy cattle in Churchill County.
