MADISON, WIS. – The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) planned three programs for the coming weeks to address the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in dairy herds.

The trade association said it designed two webinars and one hybrid workshop to educate the dairy industry on proactive responses to the HPAI/H5N1 outbreak.

"Employee safety is always a top concern for dairy processors, and its importance has only grown as H5N1 has spread among dairy herds,” said WCMA senior director of programs and policy Rebekah Sweeney. “WCMA is here to help, connecting the industry with experienced, trusted resources to help navigate an evolving situation.”

The first free webinar, scheduled for July 30, will cover employee safety, with an overview of how infection spreads. Additionally, experts will discuss practical recommendations for the dairy industry workforce, and a review of available safety resources will be provided. WCMA will bring in guest presenters Dr. Carrie Reed, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Dr. John Gibbins, a senior veterinary advisor for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s office of agriculture safety and health. Reed serves as chief of the prevention and epidemiology branch in the CDC’s influenza division and epidemiology task force, and leads H5N1 response efforts for the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

A second free webinar scheduled for Aug. 6 will dive into food safety research and regulatory updates. WCMA said Dr. Steven Grube, chief medical officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, will discuss the FDA’s work to ensure the safety of the food supply amid the outbreak and share results of food safety testing to date. The session is tailored to dairy processors and will include a Q&A.

The third WCMA program, a hybrid workshop set for Aug. 13, will focus on enhancing on-farm biosecurity practices. The event, offered in person and online, includes presentations, practical exercises, a review of resources farmers may use, and a live Q&A with presenters. Experts scheduled to speak are Dr. Doris Olander, veterinary medical officer epidemiologist, US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Dr. Keith Poulsen, director, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin; and Karen Endres, farmer wellness coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. WCMA said online attendance is free and attending in person costs $25.

Registration and more details are available online through the WCMA website.