The avian flu outbreak among dairy cows is stirring up quite the controversy between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state officials, and the dairy industry. This clash is causing a headache for President Joe Biden’s efforts to track and contain the virus, which poses a threat to millions.
Farmers aren’t exactly thrilled about having federal health officials poking around their properties. State agriculture officials are worried that the CDC’s response is sidelining the expertise of the Agriculture Department’s animal health experts. Plus, some federal interventions could potentially hinder the swift response efforts of state and local health officials.
Texas, where the bird flu was first detected, hasn’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat for the CDC to conduct field studies. Even though the state health department is open to the research, dairy farmers aren’t keen on participating. This resistance from farmers reflects a broader trust gap between agriculture players and federal health authorities, which could seriously impede efforts to tackle the virus.
The CDC is sounding the alarm about the risk of the virus spreading to humans on a larger scale. They’ve proposed sending federal teams to farms to monitor farmworker health and gather data, but state agriculture officials aren’t on board. They’re worried about farm biosecurity and farmer reluctance to allow federal officials onto their land.
Both Democratic and Republican state officials share these concerns. They believe that state and local health officials should remain in charge of the response efforts on the ground. Some are also advocating for the USDA and its animal health experts to have more involvement in the process.
