Health · Dairy bird fluBenton County bird flu: First dairy herd quarantined after detection before symptomsAired October 27, 2026 at 10:52 PM UTCWritten October 27, 2026 at 10:56 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Bird flu has put a Benton County dairy herd under quarantine for the first time.0:11Workers handling infected cattle face a greater risk, while Washington's pasteurized0:15milk remains safe.0:16What does this spread mean for people working on farms and families buying milk?0:20One dairy farm is affected.0:21Routine surveillance found the virus before the cows became sick.0:25Veterinarians are now treating sick animals, and the herd is under quarantine.0:28Testing caught the infection before visible illness could alert people caring for0:32the cattle.0:32The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory detected the infection.0:36The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories then confirmed it.0:39The virus is H5N1, a form of highly pathogenic avian influenza.0:44Officials haven't named the dairy or disclosed its herd size or how many cows are0:47infected.0:48Farmers have also put biosecurity measures in place to reduce opportunities for the0:52virus to spread.0:53Eight farms in neighboring Yakima County have cows believed to be infected.0:56Washington's first confirmed cattle infections were found there a little more than1:00two weeks before the Benton announcement.1:01The newly affected herd extends the outbreak into another county.1:05The Benton Franklin Health District linked one human illness to an infected Yakima1:09County herd.1:10Officials haven't released Benton's specific human case numbers or worker monitoring1:14results.1:14The health district says the risk to the general public remains low.1:17People handling potentially infected cattle or contaminated farm environments face1:21more direct exposure than consumers buying pasteurized dairy products.1:24The state announcement is dated October26,2026 .1:28The dates of sample collection and laboratory confirmation haven't been released.1:31Surveillance found the infection before symptoms, and sick cows needed treatment1:35afterward.1:36Infected animals and contaminated milk can carry the virus between dairy farms.1:40Equipment and vehicles can carry contamination too.1:43Along with clothing, footwear, and other material moving between properties, those1:46routes make precautions beyond the affected barn important.1:49Nobody has identified how the virus entered this particular herd.1:53State veterinarian Amber Edel says dairy farmers are putting their biosecurity plans1:57into practice and sharing lessons with each other.1:59Wild birds can carry bird flu, but officials don't consider them the main source of2:03spread among affected dairy herds.2:05Poultry are highly susceptible too.2:07Flock owners can reduce exposure by keeping birds separated from infected animals,2:11wild birds, and their droppings.2:13People working with potentially infected animals should wear gloves, masks, and eye2:16protection, along with fluid-resistant coveralls or other outerwear.2:20Livestock owners who suspect infection should separate sick cattle from healthy2:24animals and contact state agriculture officials.2:26Infected cows can shed infectious virus in their milk.2:29Research found high levels in raw milk from infected cows in states with confirmed2:33affected herds.2:35Those samples weren't representative of the whole milk supply, and they didn't2:38measure this benton herd.2:39Pasteurization inactivates viruses and bacteria in milk.2:42Standard high, temperature short, time treatment in a continuous flow system heats2:47milk to seventy two degrees Celsius, or one hundred and sixty one degrees Fahrenheit2:52for fifteen seconds.2:53State officials warn against drinking raw milk or eating raw cheese.2:57That precaution extends to unpasteurized dairy products from cows, goats, and sheep.3:01Raw dairy can expose people to virus shed by infected animals.3:05Washington's pasteurized milk remains safe, and officials don't expect milk3:09shortages.3:09Families can continue buying pasteurized milk while the affected herd receives3:13treatment and farms work to contain the infection.3:15Cats are particularly susceptible to bird flu.3:18Officials warn against feeding pets raw dairy products, raw meat, or dead birds.3:22These precautions reduce another potential route of exposure while farmers deal with3:25infection in cattle and protect other animals around their properties.3:28The herd remains quarantined while sick cows receive veterinary care.3:32Whether infection stays confined to this herd will depend on what further3:34surveillance finds.3:36Officials haven't announced when the herd could leave quarantine.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗
