Dome dairy cows in Texas and Kansas caught the bird flu. Cows, unlike egg-laying hens, don't have to be killed. They recover in 7 to 10 days. , but Texas Agriculture Commission Sid Miller said Monday the mystery dairy disease has been identified and consumers don’t need to worry.
So far, three Texas dairies and one in Kansas had cows that tested positive for the “highly pathogenic avian influenza,” commonly known as bird flu. The Texas Department of Agriculture is monitoring the outbreak that was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.“There is no threat to the public and there will be no supply shortages,” Miller said.
Dairy cows that catch the flu have symptoms that include fever and thick and discolored milk. There’s also a sharp decline in milk production. Herds could lose up to 40% of their milk production for 7 to 10 days until symptoms subside, according to the state agriculture office.