The United States Department of Agriculture late last week declared Vermont’s dairy cattle free of bird flu, according to a press release from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets. The agency’s milk sampling program shows no affected dairy cattle as of this past Friday.
Highly pathogenic avian flu was detected in a backyard flock of birds in Franklin County in late December, state officials announced on Dec. 26.
Late last week, at the University of Vermont dairy farm in South Burlington, Jess Waterman climbed up to an opening in a large storage tank, inserted a long metal dipper, and pulled out a test tubes’ worth of raw milk.
There have been no positive test results for avian flu in Vermont cows, State Veterinarian Kristin Haas assured members of the House Agriculture committee earlier this month.
A bobcat and two Red-tailed Hawks found dead in Cornwall have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection, according to preliminary lab results shared with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department on Feb. 15.
With the unfortunate discovery of a deceased bald eagle in North Hero and one ill bald eagle in Shelburne on March 29, Vermont joined 33 other states across the country in detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza in the environment.
