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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

• As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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DHS Statement on the Lifting of Title 19 Requirements

Beginning May 12, 2023, DHS will no longer require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request. DHS intends to rescind these Title 19 travel restrictions in alignment with the end of the Public Health Emergency and the termination of the Presidential Proclamation on air travel.

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A Proclamation on Revoking the Air Travel COVID- ⁠ 19 Vaccination Requirement

  Today, we are in a different phase of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic than we were in October 2021, when I issued Proclamation 10294 of October 25, 2021 (Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic).  At the time, new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had emerged globally and my Administration was responding to variants that were more transmissible or caused more severe disease than the original virus strain.  Consistent with guidance from our public health experts, I determined that it was in the interests of the United States to adopt an international air travel policy that relied primarily on vaccination to limit the risk that the COVID-19 virus, including variants of that virus, would be introduced, transmitted, and spread into and throughout the United States. 

    Now, we have successfully marshaled a whole-of-government response to make historic investments in broadly accessible vaccines, tests, and therapeutics to help us combat COVID-19.  Our public health experts have issued guidance that allows all travelers to understand mitigation measures to protect themselves and those around them.  Our healthcare system and public health resources throughout the country are now better able to respond to any potential surge of COVID-19 cases without significantly affecting access to resources or care.  Globally, COVID-19 cases and deaths are at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic.  As we continue to monitor the evolving state of COVID-19 and the emergence of virus variants, we have the tools to detect and respond to the potential emergence of a variant of high consequence.  Considering the progress that we have made, and based on the latest guidance from our public health experts, I have determined that we no longer need the international air travel restrictions that I imposed in October 2021.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that, except as provided in any other applicable proclamation, the unrestricted entry of persons described in section 2 of Proclamation 10294 is no longer detrimental to the interests of the United States.  I therefore hereby proclaim the following:

Section 1.  Revocation.  Proclamation 10294, except sections 1, 6, 7, and 8 thereof, is revoked.

Sec. 2.  Review of Agency Actions.  The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (including through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall review any regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions developed pursuant to Proclamation 10294 and, as appropriate, shall consider revising or revoking these agency actions consistent with the policy set forth in this proclamation.

 Sec. 3.  Effective Date.  This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 12, 2023.

 Sec. 4.  General Provisions. (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

        (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

        (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative,  or legislative proposals.

(b)  This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Plan your Travel

⚠   The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired as of May 11, 2023. This site will no longer be updated and will remain online for historical purposes only.

For current COVID-19 guidance, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .

• Before booking your trip, check for international travel advisories  and destination-specific COVID-19 risk . Refer to individual state, territorial, tribal, and local government websites for domestic travel advisories and information about quarantine or other restrictions.   
• The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker is a free online tool for travelers to get information on COVID-19 requirements for international travel and the measures in place at the destination.  
• Review CDC’s considerations for Travel During COVID-19 before you go to determine your personal risk.  
• Pack Smart! Pack Safe! Know what is in your carry-on and checked bags and make sure there are no prohibited items inside before arriving at the checkpoint. As a temporary exemption from the 3-1-1 rule, TSA is allowing one oversized liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags. These will need to be placed in a bin during the screening process. Passengers may also bring hand wipes through checkpoints.  
• Unused COVID-19 test kits do not contain dangerous goods and are typically allowed in both carry-on and checked baggage.  
• COVID-19 test kits containing diagnostic samples (e.g., nasal swabs and vials of sputum) are not allowed in carry-on baggage. These samples must be properly packaged, handled, and identified as a UN3373 Category B Infectious Substance (PDF) during transportation. Passengers should check with their carrier before packing COVID-19 test kits containing diagnostic samples in checked baggage or shipping as cargo. Individual carriers and international requirements may be more restrictive than domestic regulations. Visit FAA’s Pack Safe site for more information.  
• CDC recommends wearing a mask throughout your travel experience.   
• Consider joining TSA PreCheck ™. Members continue to be eligible for expedited screening procedures and have the shortest wait times. TSA PreCheck provides the most convenience and least amount of physical contact at the TSA checkpoint. Visit TSA PreCheck to enroll today.   
• Have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. government for assistance. Visit travel.state.gov for more information.   
• Make two copies of all your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.  
• Remember, if you are sick, stay home and do not travel! Contact your airline regarding their  re-booking and cancellation policies . 

*All information developed in accordance with CDC guidelines. 

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Coronavirus FAQ: How do I avoid catching COVID while flying in 2023?

It's COVID testing time at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea. Arrivals from China must now submit to a PCR test. Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/Sipa USA hide caption

It's COVID testing time at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea. Arrivals from China must now submit to a PCR test.

We regularly answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you'd like us to consider for a future post, email us at [email protected] with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." See an archive of our FAQs here .

COVID is surging in China, a new variant is reportedly the most contagious yet, testing is back in some airports. How do I avoid the virus while flying?

It's been nearly three years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, but if you head to some airports right now you might think you've returned to the early days of the outreak.

A surge of cases in China has prompted the U.S. to require a negative COVID test for travelers flying in from the Peoples' Republic of China, Hong Kong and Macau. That went into effect on Jan. 5. The European Union recommends the same measures for its member states.

China's COVID vaccines: Do the jabs do the job?

(Meanwhile, some countries never dropped their testing requirements. Venezuela and Seychelles, for example, still require proof of a negative COVID test to board a flight to those countries.)

And in the U.S. a growing number of airports are swabbing noses — of international passengers only. It's for a voluntary program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to detect new variants in travelers arriving from outside the U.S. Some 7 airports are doing the testing, including LAX and Seattle-Tacoma.

In addition to the China situation, concerns about COVID are rising because of the growing dominance of the omicron variant XBB.1.5, which the World Health Organization calls "the most transmissible variant it has yet detected" – although vaccinations and boosters appear to be holding up when it comes to protection against severe and possibly fatal disease.

"Whether more countries return to mandatory testing because of XBB.1.5 or other variants that emerge is unknown, but also unnecessary since the world is currently swimming in COVID," says Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar in residence at the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Adalja says testing is a political rather than public health decision to allay the fear of citizens. Other public health experts have noted that testing didn't prevent variants from moving around the globe – although it often delayed their arrival.

Meanwhile, an individual passenger has personal concerns: It'd be great not to catch COVID during a trip. To reduce your odds of infection, you can turn to the familiar precautions from early in the pandemic – you know, the ones that many people no longer follow.

Boost yourself

Many older adults have not gotten the latest booster, which protects both against the original virus and Omicron variants, says Dr. Preeti Malani , a professor in the department of infectious diseases at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. She calls the shot "an absolute must prior to travel."

Ahead of your flight

Since airline rules regarding precautions could change, when you book you can improve the chance of getting updates by checking the box that allows text messaging to your phone. Downloading the airline's mobile phone app will let you easily search for boarding requirements for your specific flight. Having trouble reaching customer service by phone to ask about flight rules? Direct message the airline over Twitter or use the online chat options many airlines offer.

At the airport

"My advice around international travel is to wear masks if you are in a crowded indoor space — not just on the airplanes but boarding, security lines and anywhere else that it's crowded," says Dr. Malani. "You can take a break from masks to eat/drink while waiting to board but try to find a spot that's away from the crowd."

You'll definitely want to bring your own masks. Any masks available for folks at airports or on board are likely to be paper masks; the CDC recommends "high quality masks or respirators" during travel." Respirators are masks labeled as N95s or KN95s, which provide a tighter fit and better filtration. Respirators are sold online and in stores like pharmacies. Freebies are handed out at some community health centers and public libraries.

And remember distancing? It's still a good idea during boarding and deplaning, "especially now with the highly contagious XBB COVID variant," says Leonard Marcus , co-director of the Preparedness Initiative at Harvard University.

Don't forget your hands

Research has found that bathroom door handles and seat trays and other objects are not a significant route of transmission for the virus, but it's not impossible. You can gain a bit of an edge by using hand sanitizer or an alcohol wipe. Since airlines aren't always handing out wipes these days and in-flight bottles could be depleted, the experts we spoke to advise bringing your own. "These are good public health measures so people who have concerns or heightened vulnerabilities might consider these extra steps," says Marcus. And it's not just to ward off COVID. The flu, respiratory syncytial virus and colds can also spread via droplets.

If you do bring hand sanitizer in your carry-on luggage, limit the bottle to 3.to-4 ounces so your supply doesn't have to be screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you're thinking of reaching into your cupboard for a vial you you purchased at the start of the pandemic, check the date to be sure it hasn't expired.

Create a protective zone for your airplane seat

A window seat reduces exposure to people who are standing in the aisles "and breathing down" on you, says Marcus. He's one of the authors of a 2021 study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on COVID 19 and air travel, which that found that the triple combination of masking, air cabin conditions and distancing during boarding and deplaning combine to lower your risk of contracting COVID on a flight.

He also suggests turning on the air vents: "The ventilation pushes clean air from above to the floor. The more of that the better." (Bring a sweater, though, since opening those vents can make your space colder.)

Make a plan just in case

"I would suggest having a plan for what to do if you become ill," says Dr. Malani — including where you would go to get medical care. U.S. embassies and consulates in many foreign countries have lists of doctors and hospitals that treat foreigners.

Malani also advises packing supplies -- including COVID tests and over-the-counter medications to treat symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat and fever if you get COVID-19 or other illnesses.

If your doctor has said you would be a candidate for Paxlovid if you contract COVID-19, ask for advice with regard to the drug before taking a trip.

Coronavirus FAQ: Is Paxlovid the best treatment? Is it underused in the U.S.?

Another recommendation from the experts: Trip insurance and travel medical insurance to help transport you back home (if severely ill in an international setting) is another consideration.

Fran Kritz is a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C., and a regular contributor to NPR. She also reports for the Washington Post and Verywell Health. Find her on Twitter: @fkritz

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What You Need to Know About Proof of Vaccination for Travel in 2023

Do I need to carry my vaccination card when I’m traveling?

It’s a good idea to carry the physical card, even if you have a digital version as well. “The physical C.D.C. card is precisely what you’ll need to travel anywhere that requires proof of vaccination,” says The New York Times’ travel columnist. 1  Even if you have digital proof of vaccination on your phone or other device, we recommend carrying the card. That way, if your battery dies or your phone gets lost or broken, you’ll still be able to show your vaccination record.

Can I show a photo of my vaccination card instead of the actual document?

For some purposes, a scan or photo of the card may be enough. Remember to take a picture of both sides! If you’re traveling to a country where proof of vaccination is required, you’ll probably need the physical card or an official digital version.

How do I get a digital version of my COVID-19 vaccination record?

The answer depends on where you live. Each state maintains its own records, so you’ll have to find the immunization information registry for your state . Some states make it supremely easy: Just search for your name, verify your identity and get a downloadable record or a QR code you can save to your phone.

In some states, the process takes longer: You’ll have to fill out an immunization records request form and wait several days to get your info. (If you need a digital vaccination record because you’re traveling soon, don’t wait until the last minute!)

A few companies offer digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination. You can upload your ID and vaccination card, then get a digital, shareable version. These companies include:

• AZOVA , which allows you to also get digital COVID-19 test results for travel
• Clear, which offers a free Health Pass service on its app
• CommonPass , a free, nonprofit service that lets you securely share vaccination info

Help! I can’t find my vaccination card.

The quickest way to get proof of vaccination for travel will be to obtain your digital vaccination record. If your state doesn’t provide digital records, or you need the physical card as well, contact the provider that gave you the vaccine — whether that’s your doctor’s office, a pharmacy, or your local health department.

If you can’t reach your original provider, reach out to your state or local health department. Even though the CDC’s name is on vaccination cards, the CDC doesn’t keep immunization records or issue new cards. 2

Do certain countries still require travel insurance for COVID-19?

Yes. Several countries still require tourists to carry travel insurance that can cover COVID-related emergency medical and/or quarantine expenses. Check your destination’s entry requirements to see if that’s the case.

Even if your destination requires you to buy a COVID-specific policy, you still should protect yourself with a more robust travel protection plan. OneTrip Prime , our most popular plan for international trips and family vacations, includes not only emergency medical benefits but also trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage benefits and more. See all travel insurance plans.

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2023 Travel Trends: COVID Concerns Are Declining

Cost and inflation have replaced covid-19 concerns as top barriers to travel..

by Vicki Levy, AARP Research , March 2023

Read the Detailed Findings

• 2023 Travel Trends (PDF)
• Travel Is Heating Up Among Women 50+ (Fact Sheet, PDF)
• Travelers 50-Plus: Annotated Questionnaire (PDF)
• Nontravelers 50-Plus: Annotated Questionnaire (PDF)

Get more travel tips, tools, and resources at AARP Travel

While most Americans say they are comfortable traveling again, many feel they can’t afford to because of rising inflation and high costs. 

A new AARP survey shows 81% of adults 50-plus who plan to travel in 2023 believe it’s safe to travel now (up from 77% in 2021). And just one in four say COVID-19 is a barrier to travel, compared to about a half who felt that way last year.

However, pandemic worry is being replaced with money concerns.

Inflation’s Impact

Cost is the main reason people are curbing traveling today, according to 52% of American travelers ages 50-plus in a late 2022 national poll. And 27% say financial concerns due to inflation are making them hesitant to vacation. Half of those who expected to travel more last year say it was money woes that altered their plans.

Notably altering their travel habits are those age 70 and older, who anticipate spending over 40% less on 2023 trips than they planned to for 2022. They also remain the most cautious age group concerning COVID-19.

On average, American adults intended to spend $8,369 on travel in 2022, but now plan to spend just $6,688 in 2023, the AARP research finds.

Still, a majority of adults (62%) age 50-plus will take at least one leisure trip in 2023 — and most will take between three and four trips.

Travel is one of the most popular ways to spend discretionary income: 85% of travelers surveyed rank travel among their top three priorities. This year, though, many Americans will vacation closer to home to save money. Domestic travel will be focused on family trips and weekend getaways, with fewer people planning solo trips in 2023.

AARP reports 61% of respondents say they are only taking trips within the United States, and most will drive to their destination — often hitting the road in the spring and summer. At this point in the previous year, 51% said they were limiting themselves to domestic travel. 

Destination Abroad

Some are venturing abroad, but the numbers are down. About four in ten travelers 50-plus expressed an intent to travel internationally, compared to about half who wanted to in 2022. 

Comparison of results from last year’s Travel Trends reveals a dip in interest in international cruises, from 27% to 18%. However, the survey shows that among age 50-plus travelers who are taking a cruise in 2023, the average number of cruises they’ve ever taken is 14. Most are taking ocean cruises (89%), and they are motivated by value and the chance to visit multiple locations.

Europe remains the most popular international destination, followed by Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The pandemic upended travel patterns for many, and the impact continues. Overall, women are more cautious than men in their travel plans.

2024 Surge?

The AARP survey reflects an uncertainty among nontravelers about traveling this year: 58% say it’s because of finances, and 20% are hesitant because of COVID-19. Still, about half intend to return to leisure travel in 2024, while fewer are interested in staycations than in the past.

Money that might have been spent on trips is largely being redirected to paying bills and reducing debt. And one-third are stashing away savings for future travel, although that’s down from 42% in 2022.

Among those who do travel, the trend is to take slightly fewer trips than in the past, but many are spending more locking in flexible travel options or staying longer than they usually would at a destination, AARP discovered. 

The majority (63%) of American travelers age 50-plus still embrace the idea of taking a “bucket list trip” — for many (39%) even more so than prior to the pandemic. The most common reasons keeping them from booking that dream vacation are the increase in travel costs (21%), health issues (16%), and less available discretionary income (12%). Travel restrictions, global unrest, and weather concerns were lesser factors.

Methodology

AARP gathered this data through a 15-minute online survey of 2,000 Americans age 18 and older conducted in November and December 2022. Respondents sampled had taken at least one trip within the past two years 50 miles or more away from home, with at least a two-night stay. They also were required to have used an online travel site within the past two years and intended to travel for leisure in 2023. For the nontraveler findings, a 10-minute online survey was administered to 500 Americans age 18 and over who do not plan to travel in 2023, but historically have traveled for leisure purposes.

For more information, please contact Vicki Levy at [email protected] . For media inquiries, contact External Relations at [email protected] .

Suggested citation:

Levy, Vicki. 2023 Travel Trends . Washington, DC: AARP Research, March 2023.  https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00592.001

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2022 Travel Trends

After curtailing vacations during the pandemic, a 2022 AARP survey finds Americans are beginning to feel more comfortable about traveling. 

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As new BA.2.86 COVID variant emerges, America lifts middle finger to the same old mandates

We're not starting at the same place we did when covid-19 arrived in 2020. americans barely trust any of our institutions anymore, so health care is not alone on the bottom rungs in our society..

“We’re at an inflection point,” said CNN chief medical correspondent , Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

More and more public-health officials are dusting off their old face masks and encouraging Americans to do the same for the new BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 , he explained.

Hearing that, Meghan McCain went to social media and spoke for an entire nation: “Uh no, we ain’t starting this s--- again.” 

McCain isn’t some right-wing reactionary. She’s not QAnon. She’s not a wrapped-in-the-flag freedom marcher. On this issue she is very much mainstream.

Her point is that the COVID-19 endemic will be much different than the pandemic. Americans are a lot wiser now about this pathogen and the people who tried to manage it the last time around. 

COVID tanked our trust in public health

That’s important information if you’re a doctor or public health official or epidemiologist. 

We’re not starting at the same place we did when COVID-19 arrived on our shores in January 2020.

The American people don’t trust you.

Not the way we once did. Americans barely trust any of our institutions anymore, so health care is not alone on the bottom rungs in our society.

But in the past two years, confidence in health care officials has dropped 10 points from 44% to 34%, according to a Gallup tracking poll. 

Trust in doctors, nurses won't be easily restored

In terms of trust, doctors and nurses used to occupy a high place in our society. But that’s over and probably gone for a generation. 

As the son of a pediatric radiologist, I say that with sadness, because I’ve long believed in the medical profession. Such faith was weaved into our family fabric.

No more. Not after what happened with COVID-19. 

I also say this as someone not interested in settling scores over the pandemic. All of us went through this 100-year event together. We all got stuff right, and we all got stuff wrong, because these are complicated once-in-a-generation disruptors that are not easily understood in real time. 

Public health officials, however, got so much wrong during the COVID-19 pandemic and asserted it with such confidence that they will not soon restore the trust they once enjoyed. 

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Fauci kept changing his tune on masks, COVID vaccines

You can begin with Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who began the pandemic telling the general public not to wear face masks .

Fauci was trying to preserve the short supply of surgical masks for health care professionals, but he would soon change his tune and advise Americans to mask up.

He did the same on herd immunity, changing his estimates throughout the pandemic. He began saying herd immunity would begin at about 60% to 70%, but by the end was saying 90%.

As reported in The New York Times in December 2020, Fauci admitted he fudged the truth : “Dr. Fauci said that weeks ago, he had hesitated to publicly raise his estimate because many Americans seemed hesitant about vaccines, which they would need to accept almost universally in order for the country to achieve herd immunity.

“Now that some polls are showing that many more Americans are ready, even eager, for vaccines, he said he felt he could deliver the tough message that the return to normal might take longer than anticipated.” 

America locked down public schools

Even as Western Europe began to reopen its public schools, backed with new studies that public school children were far less susceptible to COVID-19 and its most harmful effects, the United States resisted. 

Teachers unions in America stonewalled and delayed the return. When students did come back, they demanded students be masked. 

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was “file drawering” its own data showing face masks mandates for students had no statistically significant benefit, reported New York magazine , hardly a vessel of the MAGA right.

But it was the George Floyd protests of 2020 that really damaged the credibility of public health officials. 

After spending weeks condemning conservative “freedom marchers” for causing super-spreader events with their outdoor protests, the greater portion of the medical establishment gave its blessing to left-wing political marchers protesting police brutality. 

Some protests were deemed medically OK. Others weren't.

More than 1,300 epidemiologists and health workers signed a letter saying the social justice protests “must be supported,” The Times reported: “As public health advocates, we do not condemn these gatherings as risky for Covid-19 transmission. We support them as vital to the national public health.”

Some epidemiologists wrestled with the contradiction afterwards.

“I certainly condemned the anti-lockdown protests at the time, and I’m not condemning the protests now, and I struggle with that,” said Catherine Troisi, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “I have a hard time articulating why that is OK.”

Mark Lurie, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University, said, “Instinctively, many of us in public health feel a strong desire to act against accumulated generations of racial injustice. But we have to be honest: A few weeks before, we were criticizing protesters for arguing to open up the economy and saying that was dangerous behavior.” 

Like so many of our institutions, American public health had been captured by ideology. It was putting politics before the best evidence at the time.

Don't censure. Just give us the facts.

As we came to understand later, the threat to both sets of marchers was not particularly great.

“The C.D.C. vastly overstated the risks of outdoor spread of the virus, which (at least until the emergence of the Delta variant) appears to be closer to 0.1 percent than as high as 10 percent,” noted New York Times columnist Bret Stephens in his July 27, 2021, column “ COVID Misinformation Comes From the Top, Too .”

As the BA.2.86 variant rears itself in America , public health is at a new starting point.

Without the trust of the American people, it is more important than ever that medical professionals tell the truth and not twist it to produce desired outcomes.

Don’t try to censor pushback. Meet it with your best evidence. 

Be honest. Be transparent.

That’s the approach Meghan McCain’s father used to call “straight talk.” 

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this column first published . Email him at [email protected]

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USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza

Federal Order to assist with developing a baseline of critical information and limiting the spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 – To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.

Today, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive a negative test for Influenza A virus at an approved National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) laboratory.
• Owners of herds in which dairy cattle test positive for interstate movement will be required to provide epidemiological information, including animal movement tracing.
• Dairy cattle moving interstate must adhere to conditions specified by APHIS.
• As will be described in forthcoming guidance, these steps will be immediately required for lactating dairy cattle, while these requirements for other classes of dairy cattle will be based on scientific factors concerning the virus and its evolving risk profile.

Mandatory Reporting

• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A nucleic acid detection diagnostic results (e.g. PCR or genetic sequencing) in livestock to USDA APHIS.
• Laboratories and state veterinarians must report positive Influenza A serology diagnostic results in livestock to USDA APHIS.

USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive. On April 16, APHIS microbiologists identified a shift in an H5N1 sample from a cow in Kansas that could indicate that the virus has an adaptation to mammals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted further analysis of the specimen sequence, which did not change their overall risk assessment for the general public, because the substitution has been seen previously in other mammalian infections and does not impact viral transmission. Additionally, APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories found H5N1 in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic cull dairy cow that originated from an affected herd and did not enter the food supply.

The novel movement of H5N1 between wild birds and dairy cows requires further testing and time to develop a critical understanding to support any future courses of action. This Federal Order is critical to increasing the information available for USDA. Requiring positive test reporting will help USDA better under this disease and testing before interstate movement will limit its spread.

While we are taking this action today, it is important to remember that thus far, we have not found changes to the virus that would make it more transmissible to humans and between people. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals are possible, our partners at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe that the current risk to the public remains low.

Additionally, we continue to see affected cows recover after supported care with little to no associated mortality. We also continue to work with our partners in the states and industry to emphasize the critical importance biosecurity plays in limiting disease spread for all livestock and poultry.

You may view the Federal Order , which is effective on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Further, in an effort to maximize understanding and research on H5N1 in dairy cattle, on April 21, APHIS made publicly available 239 genetic sequences from the U.S. H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b influenza virus recently found in samples associated with the ongoing HPAI outbreak in poultry and wild birds, and the recent H5N1 event in dairy cattle. APHIS has also offered virus samples to interested researchers to facilitate epidemiological study. Increasing our understanding of this disease and how it spreads is critical to stopping it. This is why APHIS is urging dairy cattle producers and those who work in or with the industry to share epidemiological information from affected farms, even if they are not planning to move cattle interstate. APHIS further urges producer participation in public health assessments to continue to confirm worker safety and monitor for any potential changes in the virus that could impact transmissibility.

In addition, our partners in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released an update on the ongoing work to ensure continued effectiveness of the federal-state milk safety system. It is important to emphasize that, based on the information and research available to us at this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and USDA believe that our commercial milk supply is safe because of both the pasteurization process and the required diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows. Pasteurization has continuously proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses in milk. The FDA and USDA continue to work closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to avian influenza in dairy cattle and to support state counterparts as this emerging disease in dairy cattle is managed.

As USDA continues to take steps to protect the health of livestock, the Department continues to work closely with federal partners at the CDC on protecting the health of people and FDA on protecting the safety of the food supply. The U.S. government is committed to addressing this situation with urgency.

To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock .

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