The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began work March 25 to understand the origin of H5N1 emergence and its potential impact in bovines and humans, immediately following the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle region. USDA experts also took swift action to trace animal movements, began sampling to assess the disease prevalence in herds, and initiated a variety of testing activities to confirm the safety of the meat and milk supplies alongside federal partners. Texas reported April 1 the first confirmed human H5N1 infection associated with the outbreak. The USDA issued a Federal Order that took effect April 29 to limit the movement of lactating dairy cattle, and to collect and aggregate H5N1 test results to better understand the nature of the outbreak.