The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at three dairy farms in the Central Valley. In response, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) issued a statement addressing the situation.
“As a dairyman I’ve been closely following this situation since the first avian influenza case was detected in U.S. dairy cattle, and have remained in contact with dairy producers, USDA, CDC, and CDFA to ensure the dairy industry is equipped to keep dairy cattle and the workers who interact with these animals healthy,” said Congressman Valadao. “Thankfully, there is no milk, meat, or dairy product safety concern for consumers. I’ll continue working with local, state, and federal partners to bring avian influenza research to the forefront and better equip the industry to deal with these kinds of diseases.”
Congressman Valadao is a co-sponsor of the Avian Influenza Research and Response Act. This legislation aims to:
– Prioritize highly pathogenic avian influenza research under USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
– Codify recent USDA rulemaking that allows for dairy producers to be compensated for loss of milk production due to avian influenza infection.
– Direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Dairy Biosecurity Education and Training program.
