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Mistrust Between Farmers and the Government Is Jeopardizing Bird Flu Response

Dairy farmers, increasingly polarized following the COVID-19 pandemic and worried about economic damages, are hiding likely bird flu cases in cows from the feds.

Bird Flu Livestock
Rodrigo Abd/AP

Dairy farmers are hiding likely bird flu cases from government officials, coping with the virus’s symptoms in their herds while avoiding testing, one dairy industry representative told NOTUS.

Already distrustful of government, worried about economic and reputational damage and increasingly skeptical of public health officials following the COVID-19 pandemic, many farmers see no reason to test their cattle or engage with federal officials, Rick Naerebout, the CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, said.

“Nationwide, the vast majority of cases are not reported,” Naerebout said. “Dairymen understand they have it based on the symptoms, but they don’t get a confirmation. They’re just managing through the disease.”