US farmers refuse to invest in avian flu protection

“Dairy farmers are resisting efforts by Michigan officials to stop the spread of avian influenza, fearing that their income will be reduced,” the agency notes.

Early data shows that only a limited number of dairy farms are complying with new requirements to test MILK for avian influenza before shipping it out of state. Also, not all farms keep records of visitors and disinfect vehicles. Few have strengthened personal safety measures for employees. “Workers are still milking cows without additional protective equipment,” the agency states.

Martin farmer Brian DeMunn told REUTERS that the current restrictions are very reminiscent of the period of the spread of CORONAVIRUS in the country. The manufacturer said regulations to contain avian influenza "would be more widely accepted if they were recommendations rather than requirements."

“No one knows whether these restrictions will help stop infections,” he said. “Just like in 2020, people don’t like being told what to do.”

Brian DeMunn also noted that he, like many other farmers in the state, did not listen to federal recommendations and purchase more protective equipment for his employees because it is not clear how the virus spreads .

There are now about 900 dairy farms in the state where cows are kept outdoors. Feed in these farms is also stored in the fresh air. They are covered with a tarpaulin. According to experts, it was this principle of storing feed that caused the infection.

State officials now fear that the more cows on these dairy farms are tested for avian influenza, the more new cases will be identified. The last infection was registered on July 9. Since March, about 140 infected cows have been identified across the country. Michigan has the third highest number of infections.

State authorities have promised up to $28,000 to American farmers whose herds contain infected cows, but only if they participate in research. About ten farms have already agreed to this.

In addition, the US government  has awarded Moderna $176 million to develop an avian influenza vaccine for humans. About 20 other companies are working on creating a similar vaccine for cattle .

Let us remind you that the United States is not the only country where cases of cows and humans being infected with avian influenza have been identified. Various strains of the disease have been found in people in Australia, Mexico, CHINA and Cambodia. Mexico recorded one death last month, although the government says it was not linked to the avian influenza virus. In March, a 21-year-old student from Vietnam died of bird flu. He came into contact with a wild bird while hunting.

In most cases, the sick were in contact with poultry, but there were cases of transmission of the virus on dairy farms. At the same time, according to the World HEALTH Organization, the risk of people becoming infected with this virus is still low, and cases around the world are rare.