SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced Aug. 30 that dairy cows at three farms in the state tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

They were the first such cases reported in California, which became the 14^th state impacted by the outbreak among dairy herds.

Per CDFA, dairy owners at three farms in the state’s Central Valley worked with the agency and veterinarians to submit samples to California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratories after cows began displaying signs of HPAI on Aug. 25.

The National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the samples tested positive for HPAI on Aug. 30.

CDFA also shared that no human cases of HPAI tied to the dairy herds have been confirmed.

“We have been preparing for this possibility since earlier this year, when HPAI detections were confirmed at dairy farms in other states,” said Karen Ross, CDFA secretary. “Our extensive experience with HPAI in poultry has given us ample preparation and expertise to address this incident, with workers’ health and public health as our top priorities. This is a tough time for our dairy farmers, given the economic challenges they’re facing in a dynamic market, so I want to assure them that we are approaching this incident with the utmost urgency.”

Reiterating previous statements from health organizations throughout the HPAI outbreak among dairy herds, the California Department of Public Health noted that the virus isn’t considered a significant public health threat.

Additionally, CDFA emphasized that California’s milk and dairy products remain safe, as milk from sick cows is not permitted in the public milk supply and pasteurization kills any active traces of the virus.

The US Food and Drug Administration has conducted two rounds of dairy products testing for HPAI and reiterated that dairy products remain safe for consumption.

Per US Department of Agriculture data, as of Sept. 3, the government has confirmed 197 cases of HPAI in dairy cattle since the outbreak began earlier this year, affecting herds in 14 states: Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and California.