California, the nation’s largest milk-producing state, confirmed its first three cases of bird flu in dairy cattle. The California state veterinarian has quarantined the infected farms. The bird flu has been discovered in 197 herds in 14 states.

The USDA has implemented a strategy of isolating the infected farms and waiting for the virus to die out. Farmers are required to test lactating dairy cows before shipping them across state lines.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture reported 1,117 dairy farms with 1.69 million milk cows in California. The state produces 18% of the milk in the country.

California Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said the state’s extensive experience with bird flu in poultry has prepared it to address this incident, protecting the worker’s and public’s health.

Read more on bird flu being confirmed in California dairy herds here.