Dairy Cattle and HPAI
Current Number of UT Dairies Affected by County
Updated July 7, 2026
| County | Number of Dairies Quarantined | Number of Dairies Released from Quarantine | Total Dairies Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Elder | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Cache | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Weber | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 3 | 24 |
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Dairy Cattle
HPAI is a disease that is highly contagious and often fatal in poultry and can be caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5) and A (H7) viruses. HPAI is often transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry. Poultry and dairy cattle owners should maintain strong biosecurity plans and vigilantly watch flocks and herds for symptoms of HPAI. Poultry symptoms include high death loss among flocks, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination in birds. Dairy cattle symptoms include decreased milk production; thicker, colostrum-like milk; decrease in feed consumption; dehydration; and fever. Most dairy cattle recover within a few weeks.
ย Though the risk of HPAI to the general public is low, mild illnesses have only been reported among exposed livestock workers in other states. People who have prolonged, regular exposure to poultry or dairy cattle and exhibit symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, eye irritation, headaches, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, or vomiting should contact their local health department. For more information on avian influenza in humans visit https://epi.utah.gov/bird-flu-
As a reminder, the pasteurization of dairy products and proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165หF is recommended as a general food safety measure.
Recent History of HPAI in Dairy Cattle
- Early 2024- An unknown milk drop syndrome was identified in adult, mid- to late-lactation dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle area, and later affected dairies in Kansas and New Mexico.
- March 25, 2024 โ Cattle on a Texas dairy were confirmed with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus that has been circulating in poultry and wild birds in the United States since 2022. Since then, numerous dairies across many states have tested positive for HPAI.
- Infected animals show a severe drop in rumination, feed intake, and milk production. Milk appears thick, discolored, and clumpy. Unlike other species affected by HPAI, dairy cattle do not die, but recover in health and some milk production over the course of weeks.
- It appears that all the cases in dairy have spread from 1 initially infected farm. The route of spread could be via milk, animal movement (even those that are not showing illness), people and equipment.
- April 24, 2024 โ USDA issued a federal order stating that milk from lactating dairy cattle must test negative for HPAI before those cows cross state lines. Some exceptions exist: see the Dairy Cattle Testing for Avian Influenza document below.
- October 23, 2024 โ UDAF Enacts Mandatory Surveillance for Cache County Dairies
- October 30, 2024 โ Avian Influenza Confirmed in Utah Dairies
Bovine HPAI Certified Tester Training Program
To facilitate this testing, UDAF has developed a Bovine HPAI Certified Tester Training Program, so producers can collect these milk samples themselves to streamline compliance with the new rule.