Mass. cows don’t have bird flu, state says

Massachusetts cows have thus far been spared of the avian flu.

State testing from all 95 Massachusetts dairy farms showed a 100% negative result for the dangerous strain of influenza, according to the state Department of Agricultural Resources.

“Massachusetts dairy farmers follow stringent safety protocols and take great pride in producing the highest-quality products,” said department Commissioner Ashley Randle.

Though the state is no bovine behemoth, as of 2020 there were 10,000 cows in the Bay State, according to the New England Dairy Council.

The most recent strain of avian flu was detected in some Texas cattle back in March, and has since been found in herds across the country. Infected cows look like they have a case of the flu: They get lethargic and often produce less milk for a few weeks, according to the department.

Thankfully, there have been just 15 U.S. cases of avian flu in humans since 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2024, just four dairy farm workers who came into contact with unpasteurized milk have caught the illness. Pasteurization is a process used to kill germs in milk.

The seasonal flu shot isn’t effective against avian flu, according to the CDC, but the agency recommends anyone who works with cattle or other potentially infected mammals to get the shot anyway in order to avoid a rare co-infection.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.