The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it will pay dairy farms with confirmed avian influenza infections to help contain the virus’ spread to people and more cows.
The Idaho Capital Sun reports federal funding is now available to cover the costs of enhanced biosecurity measures, protective equipment for workers, heat treatments for tainted milk, and veterinary and testing fees.
According to USDA data, the virus was first identified in a Texas farm in March and has since been discovered in a total of nine states, including Idaho.
Sick cows typically recover, but they shed large amounts of the virus in their milk.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food & Drug Administration are also increasing testing to better understand the virus and the public health risks it poses.
The CDC has said the risk is low to humans and that pasteurization neutralizes its threat.
