Testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu will begin later this month in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better understand and control the spread of the virus in dairy cows.
Raw or unpasteurized milk samples from dairy farms and processors must be tested on request starting from December 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Friday.
Officials said the aim is to quickly identify which herds are affected by Type A H5N1, a strain that was detected for the first time in U.S. dairy cows in March. Some 720 herds have been confirmed to be infected in 15 states as of Friday.
Raw Farm raw milk containers are displayed on a shelf at a grocery store on November 25, 2024, in San Anselmo, California. Testing of the nation’s milk supply will begin in six states, including California. Raw Farm raw milk containers are displayed on a shelf at a grocery store on November 25, 2024, in San Anselmo, California. Testing of the nation’s milk supply will begin in six states, including California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The new testing strategy “will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.
“Among many outcomes, this will give farms and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”
The federal order requires dairy farmers and those who handle raw milk intended for pasteurization provide milk samples on request for testing for bird flu.
It also requires state veterinarians and private laboratories report positive test results to the USDA and that herd owners provide information to allow tracing of the disease in cattle.
The move comes after the UDSDA issued a federal order on April 24 that mandated that dairy cattle moving between states must for bird flu and any positive tests be reported. Those requirements remain in place.
At least 58 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, most of them in California and mostly farm workers who became mildly ill after close contact with infected cows or infected poultry. Bird flu has also been spreading among wild birds and other animals.
The risk to people from bird flu remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pasteurization, or heat treatment, kills the virus in milk, meaning it is safe to drink. Poultry, eggs and beef should be cooked to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses.
“People who have job-related or recreational exposure to infected birds or animals, including cows, are at greater risk of contracting HPAI A(H5N1) virus,” the CDC says.
The agency recommends personal protective equipment like disposable gloves, masks and safety goggles be worn when in direct or close contact “when in direct or close contact (within about six feet) with sick or dead animals including poultry, wild birds, backyard bird flocks, or other animals, animal feces, litter, or materials potentially contaminated” with the virus.
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