The following information describes response measures for cow dairy farms where H5N1 has been detected from raw milk samples collected on the farm.
Notification Process
If H5N1 is detected in your herd, you can expect to be directly contacted by a field case manager. Your case manager will arrange additional bulk tank sampling and testing to confirm positive results. They will also visit to review response protocols with you, provide quarantine instructions, share resources for eligible expense reimbursements, and more. The case manager will be your point of contact to help you through the response process.
Quarantine Requirements
Our primary control measure for H5N1 is quarantine. Any farm where H5N1 is detected will be quarantined. During a quarantine, no livestock or poultry can come onto your farm, and no quarantined animals or materials can leave without a movement permit. The quarantine applies to all livestock, poultry, cats, manure, waste milk, and carcasses. However, milk from healthy animals can still be sold for pasteurization, as usual (only waste milk is quarantined).
Movement permits
When quarantined, a farm may apply for a movement permit from the Board of Animal Health (BAH) to request permission to move some animals or materials on or off the farm. These applications are reviewed, and permits are granted, on a case-by-case basis, when the movements requested are low-risk and the potential for disease spread can be limited.
Quarantine release
Quarantines last a minimum of 30 days. Before lifting the quarantine, a farm must have three consecutive negative bulk tank tests taken seven or more days apart. On the final test, a sample from individual cows not contributing to the bulk tank may be required. Additionally, a farm must complete the following management plans:
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Milk Management (waste milk and regular milk)
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Containment Biosecurity
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Manure Management
Your case manager will assist you with these documents. Once all requirements are completed, the case manager will deliver quarantine release documents to the farm.
Worker Safety
Understanding that wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) in a farm environment isn’t always possible, individuals working around infected animals should still take what steps they can to protect their eyes, nose, and mouth. Help workers on your farm to safely wear PPE. This could include coveralls or Tyvek suits with hats, rubber boots, latex or nitrile gloves, goggles, N95 respirators (with or without face shield or waterproof apron). Additional worker safety tips and resources are available from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Being Prepared
There are some steps you can take ahead of time to make sure a quarantine doesn't last any longer than necessary. Keep complete and up-to-date farm records, especially on livestock movements, as this information will be required for all animal movements on or off the farm in the 30 days prior to the start of quarantine.
The management plan forms for the disease response are not intended for general distribution, but you can start learning biosecurity principles now. Complete a Secure Milk Supply Plan (pdf) to build daily biosecurity habits to prevent disease introduction on your farm. Such a plan can be referenced to complete the required management plans in the event of an H5N1 positive.
Other Things to Know
Three state agencies representing agriculture, animal health, and human health work together alongside other partners and industry groups to effectively respond to disease outbreaks. The MDH is integrated in animal response as human disease surveillance officers.
When H5N1 is confirmed in a herd, MDH workers will request a list of people on the farm who were exposed to the infected herd. Human disease surveillance officers will contact these individuals to give them the option to enroll in human health monitoring, which involves health interviews, testing, and antiviral medications if needed. While farm management is required to provide the MDH with a list of people exposed to the infected herd, individual participation in human health monitoring is voluntary. Those contacted may choose to answer or not answer their phone or text messages, or answer and decline further contact. Language services are available for non-English speakers.
In addition to human health interviews, information about animal movements on or off the farm from the last 30 days will be collected by a field epidemiologist. This may be done during the initial site visit with your case manager.
Financial Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing financial support to help dairy producers enhance biosecurity on their farms and follow the necessary response protocols if H5N1 is confirmed in their herd.
The MDA's Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board has declared an emergency for three animal diseases, including the H5N1 in order to open financial assistance to farmers impacted by the virus. This makes zero-interest Disaster Recovery Loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations have been impacted from February 12, 2025 to February 12, 2026. These funds are available to farmers for expenses not covered by insurance, including replacement of livestock, building improvements, or to cover the loss of revenue when the replacement, improvements, or revenue loss is due to the confirmed presence of H5N1.
