Bird Flu Confirmed in Minnesota Dairy Herd, Quarantine Imposed

Minnesota officials have quarantined a dairy herd in Stearns County after milk samples tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, marking the first detection in a dairy herd this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the results, and all milk sold in stores remains safe due to pasteurization. In response, some state lawmakers are advocating for increased safeguards, including ongoing testing of retail milk and monitoring the wastewater supply for the virus. Meanwhile, the bird flu continues to impact the dairy industry nationwide, with cases reported in multiple states, although Pennsylvania officials noted their dairy herds are currently free of the virus. Experts emphasize that the risk of transmission to humans remains low due to effective pasteurization processes. Overall, monitoring efforts are being ramped up to prevent further spread among livestock.