A domestic goat tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said on March 21, Fox News reported.
This case was the first in the United States among cattle, sheep, goats, etc.
The goat lived on a Stevens County farm that already had a bird infected with avian influenza. The animals had access to the same space, including a common water source. Before the discovery of the infected goat, all poultry in the area had already been quarantined due to an HPAI outbreak in February 2024.
After the goat tested positive, all other species in the area were also isolated. As a result, an investigation into the transmission of the virus was initiated with the participation of the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The goat’s carcass was taken to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), where it tested positive for influenza A. The National Veterinary Service Laboratories (NVSL) later confirmed that it was H5N1 HPAI, the same virus that was circulating during the 2022 outbreak. Millions of chickens, turkeys and other birds were then slaughtered.
“This result is important because, while spring migration certainly represents a period of increased transmission risk for poultry, it highlights the possibility of the virus spreading to other animals on multi-species farms.”Dr. Brian Hoefs, state veterinarian, said in the report.
According to the Department of Agriculture, HPAI is a serious disease that requires a rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to birds.
HPAI has previously been diagnosed in other mammal species such as skunks, dogs, and cats. The USDA has tracked more than 200 cases of HPAI in mammals across the United States since the HPAI outbreak began in 2022.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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