Utah reports H5N1 return in Cache County

Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food said on June 2 that highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, had been detected in a Cache County dairy, prompting the state to reinstate mandatory surveillance across the county. The agency said officials were notified on June 1 that a sample from a dairy in Cache County tested positive for the virus. The order took effect immediately and applies to all dairies in the county. The case marks a return of H5N1 monitoring measures in northern Utah after earlier dairy-related detections in the state in 2024. ### What exactly did Utah announce on June 2? A June 2 notice from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said a sample from a Cache County dairy tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The agency said it was enacting mandatory weekly surveillance for H5N1 in dairies across Cache County. The state said UDAF inspectors will collect bulk tank milk samples each week from all Cache County dairy facilities. Federal funding is available to cover the testing cost, the agency said, so producers will not be charged for the sampling. ### What changes for dairies in Cache County now? Cache County dairies now face weekly testing under the state order. (ag.utah.gov) UDAF said that if a dairy tests positive, the facility will be placed under quarantine and no movement of lactating cattle will be allowed on or off the premises except for cows going directly to slaughter. UDAF’s dairy-cattle testing guidance says lactating cows moving to slaughter must have a health certificate or other documentation accepted by Utah and the destination state. (ag.utah.gov) The same guidance says positive herds face no movement of lactating cattle for at least 30 days and must have a negative retest before movement is allowed. ### Is this a poultry outbreak or a dairy-cattle case? (ag.utah.gov) The June 2 Utah notice describes the new detection as a dairy case, not a poultry flock outbreak. The positive sample came from a dairy in Cache County, and the surveillance order applies to dairies rather than poultry operations. Utah’s poultry guidance separately says H5N1 is highly contagious and often fatal in poultry and is commonly transmitted by wild birds to domestic flocks. (ag.utah.gov) That guidance also tells poultry and dairy cattle owners to maintain biosecurity plans and watch for symptoms. ### Has Utah dealt with this before? Utah used the same tool in Cache County in October 2024, when the state put mandatory surveillance in place for all dairies there after H5N1 concerns. (ag.utah.gov) A later state release said avian influenza had been confirmed in Utah dairies and that affected facilities were placed under quarantine. Utah Public Radio reported on June 2 that the new Cache County dairy detection was the first detection of the dairy strain in the state since January 2025. (ag.utah.gov) The Salt Lake Tribune also reported on June 3 that the latest positive was Utah’s first detection in cattle since early last year, citing State Veterinarian Amanda Price. ### Who is overseeing the response? (ag.utah.gov) State Veterinarian Amanda Price is among the Utah officials involved in the response. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the positive result came back on June 1 after the dairy became suspicious that its herd had contracted bird flu. UDAF’s animal-health pages say the state’s response to H5N1 in dairy cattle operates alongside federal guidance from the U.S. (upr.org) Department of Agriculture and other public-health agencies. Utah also maintains separate public guidance pages for dairy cattle and poultry HPAI. ### What should readers watch next? The June 2 order means weekly bulk tank sampling will continue for all Cache County dairies until Utah lifts the surveillance requirement. (sltrib.com) UDAF said details of the testing program and movement rules are posted in its June 2 notice and on its dairy-cattle HPAI guidance page. (ag.utah.gov 1) (ag.utah.gov 2)