A bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has grown to eight states and U.S. regulators have now released 239 H5N1 genetic sequences associated with the outbreak. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had faced criticism that it was not releasing information fast enough for researchers to try to determine how big the outbreak is and if it affects herds outside of the United States. The pathogen primarily causes illness in older cows and its symptoms include decreased lactation, low appetite and other symptoms. Samples of milk at dairy farms in Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, South Dakota, Kansa…