# How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic - KFF Health News

> KFF Health News reports that H5N1 has spread among US dairy cattle, with at least 875 herds across 16 states testing positive. Affected cows show decreased milk production, and farms are treating sick animals with fluids. Researchers say the US is not on a path to contain the virus on dairy farms.

- Date: 2024-12-20 · published 2024-12-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/16043-how-america-lost-control-of-the-bird-flu-setting-the-stage-for-another-pandemic
- Commodities: [Milk (Class III)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/MILK.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Lower milk output from infected herds tightens dairy supply and can support milk prices, while disrupted cattle movements add cost pressure. The ongoing spread raises the chance of further herd losses and output declines.

## Read by commodity

- MILK: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MILK | 2024-11-27 | [Bird flu H5N1 outbreak in cattle and Canada infection worry scientists  : Shots - Health News : NPR](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16047-bird-flu-h5n1-outbreak-in-cattle-and-canada-infection-worry-scientists-shots.md) | -4.5% | -5.9% |
| MILK | 2024-03-25 | [Dairy cattle in Texas, Kansas test positive for bird flu \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16105-dairy-cattle-in-texas-kansas-test-positive-for-bird-flu-ap-news.md) | -0.4% | -5.1% |
| MILK | 2026-06-30 | [Idaho is American ag’s bird flu hotspot \| Capital Press](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15904-idaho-is-american-ag-s-bird-flu-hotspot-capital-press.md) | -2.4% | -1.3% |
| MILK | 2024-05-08 | [Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows Is Widespread, Raising Public Health Concerns \| Infectious Diseases \| JAMA \| JAMA Network](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16090-bird-flu-outbreak-in-dairy-cows-is-widespread-raising-public-health-concerns.md) | +2.1% | +6.4% |
| MILK | 2025-01-08 | [Avian flu keeps chugging along in birds, cows \| Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16035-avian-flu-keeps-chugging-along-in-birds-cows-agri-pulse-communications-inc.md) | -1.0% | -0.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-05-26 | [The 'Wall' That Keeps Flesh-Eating Worms Out of America - The Atlantic](https://feedsoft.ai/events/53078-the-wall-that-keeps-flesh-eating-worms-out-of-america-the-atlantic.md) | -0.3% | -8.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-08-13 | [America’s Never-Ending Battle Against Flesh-Eating Worms](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45516-america-s-never-ending-battle-against-flesh-eating-worms.md) | -0.1% | +1.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-08-13 | [US to expand bird-flu testing of beef in slaughterhouses \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16073-us-to-expand-bird-flu-testing-of-beef-in-slaughterhouses-reuters.md) | -0.7% | -4.4% |

## Sources

- kffhealthnews.org: https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/bird-flu-spread-cattle-poultry-pandemic-cdc/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.