The highly pathogenic avian flu has infected more Michigan dairy farms only three weeksafter it first spread to cattle.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Friday, April 12 the bird flu was detected in three commercial farms in Ionia, Isabella and Ottawa counties. This brings the total number of infected Michigan dairy herds to four after the flu was confirmed at a Montcalm County farm in late March. An egg farm in Ionia County was also struck by the virus two weeks ago – impacting 4 million birds, federal data shows. “What is happening with HPAI in Michigan mirrors what is happening in states across the country. This virus does not stop at county or state lines, which is why we must all be on high alert. This news is unfortunate and upsetting for our poultry and dairy farming families and communities,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring in a statement.