(Pierre, SD) — The USDA is moving closer to approving bird flu vaccines for poultry and dairy cattle, including in South Dakota. State veterinarian Beth Thompson says national vaccination plans could be in place by next spring, as bird flu continues to affect both animals and, in rare cases, humans. Nearly six-point-eight million birds and seven dairy herds have been impacted in South Dakota since 2022. Meanwhile, Thompson also warns about the spread of the New World Screwworm — a parasite recently found in southern Mexico. The USDA is responding with border closures and plans to ramp up sterilization efforts to keep it from spreading north.
