Washington, D.C. - In a move to curb the spread of avian influenza, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mandated nationwide testing of raw milk for bird flu, starting December 16th. This comes after the virus, known as Type A H5N1, was detected in U.S. dairy cows for the first time in March, leading to infections in over 700 herds across 15 states.
"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," said agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The testing will initially focus on six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Dairy farmers and processors handling raw milk intended for pasteurization will be required to provide samples upon request. Positive test results must be reported to the USDA, and herd owners will need to provide details to trace the disease in cattle.
Concerns Over Raw Milk Consumption
While pasteurization effectively kills the virus in milk, concerns remain about the consumption of raw, unpasteurized milk. Testing has shown that raw milk from infected cows can contain high levels of live virus.
"Raw milk from infected cows contains high loads of live virus," said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who has been advocating for nationwide milk testing.
At least 58 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, primarily farm workers who experienced mild illness after close contact with infected cows, their milk or infected poultry.
Industry Response and Ongoing Efforts
The dairy industry has expressed support for the USDA's efforts to eradicate the virus."The industry supports USDA efforts to eliminate the virus," stated Jamie Jonker, chief science officer of the National Milk Producers Federation.
This latest order follows an April 24th federal mandate requiring testing of certain dairy cattle before interstate movement and reporting of positive tests. Despite this previous measure, the virus has continued to spread highlighting the need for more complete testing.
The USDA continues to emphasize risks associated with consuming raw milk urging consumers to choose pasteurized milk for safety.
This nationwide testing initiative marks a significant step in fighting against avian influenza aiming at protecting both animal and human health.