OHIO — A dairy cattle herd in Wood County has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the Ohio Department of Agriculture said. It received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory. 

What You Need To Know

  • It's the first case of HPAI in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture said

  • The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are no safety concerns around commercially pasteurized dairy products, and said that the public health risk remains low

  • The Ohio Department of Agriculture isn't issuing quarantines or movement restrictions on livestock at this time

It's the first case of HPAI in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture said. 

According to ODA, the dairy operation in Wood County received the cows on March 8 from a Texas dairy farm. The Texas later on reported a confirmed detection of HPAI. Upon the discovery, Ohio animal health officials were notified when the livestock showed symptoms comparable to sick, lactating dairy cows in other states. 

On March 25, federal agencies confirmed the detection of HPAI in Texas and Kansas dairy herds and notified Ohio animal health officials. Since then, cattle heards in Idaho, New Mexico and Michigan were also confirmed to have the disease. 

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there are no safety concerns around commercially pasteurized dairy products, and said that the public health risk remains low.

"ODA is working with state industry partners and federal agencies to encourage farmers and veterinarians to report cattle illnesses quickly, to monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact and risk to farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and other animals," the Ohio Department of Agriculture said in a release.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture isn't issuing quarantines or movement restrictions on livestock at this time.