WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins urging her to develop an emergency plan to vaccinate cattle against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The letter was co-signed by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

Since the most recent outbreak of HPAI beginning in February 2022, HPAI has impacted 116 commercial bird flocks and 26 backyard flocks in South Dakota, amounting to 6.7 million birds. In March 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service detected HPAI infections in dairy cattle herds located on the Texas panhandle; since then, over 1,000 detections have occurred in 17 states, including South Dakota. Although cattle are able to recover from HPAI, producers want to be prepared for additional spread that may occur.

“While we fully recognize the sensitivities and potential implications of a vaccination strategy in cattle, we strongly urge USDA to be prepared for all potential options in the fight against HPAI,”wrote the senators. “This would include stockpiling vaccine doses for HPAI just as USDA does for other potential diseases of concern.”

Rounds has been a leader in the push for an HPAI vaccine. In January 2024, Roundssent a letter to then-USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and then-U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai asking them to begin discussions with trade partners on HPAI vaccines. In March 2025, Roundsintroduced legislation to require the U.S. Trade Representative and the USDA Secretary to negotiate with trade partners on a strategy for HPAI poultry vaccine.

Read the full text of the letterHERE or below.