On Jun. 6, 2024, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced that the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) had been confirmed in a Benton County dairy herd. Samples collected from sick cows in the herd were sent to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where the virus was detected.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pasteurized dairy remains safe to consume.