The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved field trials to test vaccines aimed at preventing avian flu from infecting dairy cows.

The field trial is the next step in the development of a vaccine, “which hopefully we’ll be able to develop in near term with the information we get from this field trial,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. “That will allow us to determine whether we can go to the next level, next set of steps necessary to ensure safe and effective use of the vaccine.”

He made the announcement last week at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa.

USDA’s Center of Veterinary Biologics is overseeing the efforts and is now accepting submissions for field studies to support conditional or full licensure of nonviable, non-replicating vaccines.

The agency is also considering granting conditional licenses for vaccines for lactating dairy cattle with either separate or combined field efficacy and field safety study data from those target animals.

The virus first appeared in Texas earlier this year.

Since March, H5N1 has been detected in over 190 herds in 14 states, including California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

According to statistics from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the virus’ spread did slow in August.

Earlier this summer, USDA announced funding for dairy farmers who incur milk losses due to H5N1 in their dairy herds. Applications will be accepted through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program until Jan. 30.

USDA encourages dairy farmers to enhance biosecurity efforts on the farm, such as thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting parlors, equipment, clothing, and vehicles; separating sick cows and limiting movement of cattle; wearing and disinfecting personal protective equipment; and limiting traffic onto the farm.

Click here to learn more about USDA’s response to H5N1 in dairy cattle.