The Trump administration has disrupted the U.S. response to bird flu as the outbreak worsens, leading to confusion and concern among federal staff, state officials, veterinarians and health experts, 11 sources told Reuters.
US bird flu response disrupted in early weeks of Trump administration, sources say
Congress not briefed for weeks, reports withheld, meetings cancelled, reports suggest
US detects H5N1 bird flu in a pig for the first time
H5N1 bird flu was confirmed in a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon, the first detection of the virus in swine in the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.
State and industry input led US farm agency to relax bird flu testing order for cows
The U.S. Department of Agriculture weakened an emergency order last spring designed to prevent the spread of bird flu among the nation's dairy cattle after pushback from state and industry officials, according to state and federal records seen by Reuters.
U.S. farmers call for vaccine option to fight bird flu as wildfowl migration begins
U.S. farmers are increasing pressure to allow vaccinations for chickens, turkeys and cows to protect them from bird flu infections that have devastated flocks for three years,
US undercounts bird flu in cattle as farmers shun testing
Farmers fear economic losses from positive tests, leading to under-reporting; USDA offers partial compensation
The U.S. bird-flu outbreak in dairy cattle is much larger than official figures suggest due to farmers' reluctance to test their animals and risk the economic consequences of a positive result, according to Reuters interviews with dairy experts, veterinarians, and farmers in six states with known cases.
Cows infected with bird flu have died in five US states
Dairy cows infected with avian flu in five U.S. states have died or been slaughtered by farmers because they did not recover, state officials and academics told Reuters.
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
