Dr. Michael Payne, a researcher and outreach coordinator at the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security (WIFSS) a center within the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Director of the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program, an industry, academic regulatory partnership which promotes the health and welfare of livestock, provides insights into the behavior of the influenza virus: "Traditionally, mammals are considered dead-end hosts for the Influenza virus. While infected, mammals typically do not spread the virus to other animals. However, the recent cases in Michigan and Idaho suggest the possibility of lateral transmission between cows. Authorities are conducting extensive sampling and testing to confirm this."