ILLINOIS (WCIA) — On Friday, the Illinois Departments of Public Health and Agriculture declared that the State of Illinois is now classified as “unaffected” by the H5N1 strain of bird flu in dairy cattle.

“Unaffected” is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “ongoing testing and surveillance activities demonstrate absence of disease in dairy cattle in the state.” This means that as of Friday morning, no dairy cows in the state are infected with the H5N1 strain.

State officials credited this achievement to collaboration between the state, local health departments, dairy farms and agricultural organizations.

“Public health truly excels through the power of partnership,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We, at IDPH, are grateful for our colleagues at the Illinois Department of Agriculture and at our local health departments, who worked with us to provide information, personal protective equipment (PPE), and other resources to protect dairy cattle and the people who work with them. We also appreciate the efforts of partners like the Illinois Farm Bureau and dairy farm operators who went the extra mile to keep our dairy supply safe. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to keep our Illinois residents safe and protected.” 

H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is a contagious illness found in waterfowl and other birds, and it can be transmitted to cattle or people who come into contact with an infected bird. The IDPH and IDOA began monitoring dairy operations for signs of H5N1 in the spring of last year.

“Illinois farmers are on the front lines managing the safety of our food supply chain,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.“ Our collaborative work across agencies and our commitment to take swift, science-based action has kept our dairy herds safe and our food supply secure to date. This designation by USDA reflects the vigilance and dedication of our farm families and the strength of our biosecurity efforts statewide.”

Despite the recent designation by the USDA, Vohra noted that migration season is underway and infected wild birds may come into Illinois. He stressed the need for appropriate precautions when disposing of dead birds, a list of which can be found by clicking here.

People are also advised to not send dead or dying birds to veterinarians or wildlife refuges for testing. Instead, notify the local health department or alert biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in cases where five or more dead birds are found together.

If people start experiencing symptoms of the flu — fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, body aches, headaches, eye redness, vomiting or diarrhea — after exposure, they should notify their local health department. Treatment must be started within two days of illness for it to be the most effective, so people are urged not to delay seeking care.

People are also advised to let any health care facility they seek treatment at know about their exposure.

The risk of infection to the public remains low, officials said, and the IDPH stressed that it is still important to take precautions to avoid exposure and spread of the virus. More information about H5N1 bird flu ca be found by clicking here and here.