Illinois has been officially classified as “unaffected” by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) under the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy, following months of raw milk testing. This upgrade, made possible by collaboration between federal and state agencies, means Illinois dairy herds have shown no evidence of HPAI, reducing the need for widespread future milk testing.
Of the states participating in the testing program, 33 are now considered unaffected, while 6—including California and Texas—remain affected. Illinois Farm Bureau’s Tasha Bunting said the state will now move to routine surveillance testing.
While Illinois dairy herds remain free of HPAI, the risk to poultry is growing as bird migration increases. Producers are urged to step up biosecurity, especially for backyard and outdoor flocks, to minimize wild bird contact. If HPAI is suspected in poultry, the Illinois Department of Agriculture should be contacted for a rapid response.