Livestock at a number of dairy farms throughout the U.S. have examined optimistic for chicken flu — often known as extremely pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI — in an outbreak that’s seemingly unfold to not less than 5 states.

The U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service confirmed Friday that cows in Texas, Kansas and Michigan had been sickened by the virus, and there have been presumptive optimistic take a look at outcomes for extra herds in New Mexico and Idaho.

It’s the first time the illness has been present in dairy cattle, based on the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation.

The circumstances come simply days after a gaggle of younger goats contracted chicken flu on a Minnesota farm.

Bird flu infects the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of birds and is commonly deadly to avian populations. It could unfold from wild birds to industrial poultry and yard flocks in addition to terrestrial and marine mammals and people.

Authorities officers say the chance to the general public amid the present outbreak stays low. Most previous human infections have occurred after folks had “unprotected exposures to sick or lifeless contaminated poultry,” according to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. And officers say the pressure of the virus detected in Michigan is just like the one present in Texas and Kansas, which was proven by means of preliminary testing to not embrace any adjustments that will make it extra transmissible to people.