The state veterinarian briefed the Senate Agriculture Committee on two animal-disease threats: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and brucellosis.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an influenza A virus of poultry,” Dr. Szymansky said, describing the national outbreak that has affected poultry and — in a recent development — dairy cattle. “In April of ’24, that virus also jumped and landed in dairy cattle. And it has been spreading across the US since that time.” He noted public-health monitoring and that “just this week CDC announced the first human death associated with the HPAI virus here in the US,” remarks the committee recorded.

Szymansky said Montana established voluntary surveillance that tests milk from licensed dairies; an initial round of samples returned negative and federal funds have supported the testing. He described coordination with federal partners and state public-health officials and said Montana has relied on emergency cooperative agreements from federal agencies to support response work.

On brucellosis, Szymansky described the disease as entrenched in wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone area, where infected bison and elk represent a spillover risk to livestock. "All of the work that's done in Southwest Montana keeps the cattle from the rest of the state of Montana moving without additional restrictions when they cross state lines," he said, describing a surveillance program in four southwest counties that seeks early detection and containment.

Committee members asked for further briefings on avian influenza public-health links and brucellosis surveillance; Dr. Szymansky said the department would provide additional materials and coordinate with Department of Public Health and Human Services and federal partners as requested.