Avian Flu

The United States Department of Agriculture announced on Friday they will require the testing of unpasteurized milk samples in Michigan and five other states for bird flu. It's the latest move in a nationwide effort to contain an outbreak of H5N1 that has hit the dairy industry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending farm workers get tested for bird flu if they have contacted infected animals, even if they have no symptoms.

26 cattle herds have been found infected in Michigan, and farmers dealing with the virus are also seeing lower milk production. The USDA will be providing additional cushion for these farmers.

The Missaukee Agricultural Youth Show has been teaching local youth about the many pieces that make up an agricultural community. An outbreak of bird flu in poultry and dairy cattle has caused one event cancellation and is expected to cause more changes to this year’s fair.

Michigan is requiring more biosecurity measures on farms because of an outbreak of bird flu in dairy herds.

4-H organizations across the state are unable to show poultry and dairy cattle at fair this year, due to a bird flu outbreak originating in Texas. Osceola County in northern Michigan has made adjustments so that youth can still show what they learned from their livestock projects this year.

Thursday's announcement marks the third human case of the virus in the U.S. this year. Some migrant farmworkers in the state have voiced concerns to labor advocacy groups about the lack of personal protection equipment available at sites.

Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch in Ionia County let go of 400 employees and contractors as millions of birds in the state are affected with the highly pathogenic virus.

Michigan's commercial poultry and dairy operations are being asked to beef up their biosecurity measures on their farms following a recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The USDA is in the midst of vaccine trials for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Results can be expected by the end of August.