Dealing with the bird flu in dairy herds across the state was the focus of a joint state House and Senate panel hearing on Wednesday.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tim Boring told the legislators that his department is evaluating pathways to best contain these recently detected strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza, with a strong focus on bio-security measures.

Senate Minority Whip Roger Victory is a third-term Republican and commercial farmer from Hudsonville.

An attorney for the Michigan Allied Poultry Industries told the panel that Michigan has been hit harder than 10 states that have had dairy cows test positive for this strain of bird flu, with 25 of the total 87 cow herds affected.

While only two people in Michigan have tested positive for the virus, Boring said there is also concern that further mutations in dairy and other animals could result in heightened risk to humans.