Public health officials and the dairy industry are on high alert after a record number of cows were found to be infected with bird flu.
The discovery was made by an animal vet in Texas, who couldn’t figure out the reason behind a dramatic increase in cows with mastitis. An infection of the udder, mastitis is usually caused by forceful trauma or an infection – leading to an abnormal milk production.
The vet, Dr. Barb Peterson, found that the cows’ milk was thickened and discoloured. She began to feel concerned after farmers reported that the remainder of their livestock seemed to be dying of the same disease.
Mastitis is common in all dairy cows, not just those testing positive for H521. The udder infection causes pus to leak into milk, which is then pooled into large tanks.