In a recent Cattle Chat podcast, Kansas State University veterinarians share their educational insight to explain how highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) is transmitted and what that might mean for cattle operations. Most viruses don’t cross species, but the influenza virus is one that will move between birds and pigs, and occasionally other animals, including humans,” K-State veterinarian Bob Larson says. K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers adds: “It is called highly pathogenic avian virus because in birds there is a high mortality rate …. “Usually, viruses in dairy cattle are more likely to impact cows in early lactation, when there is some immunosuppression around the time of calving,” he explains. “Identifying the virus means that viral genetic material has been detected by a PCR test or a genome-sequencing test,” Lubbers explains.