US Implements Nationwide Milk Testing to Combat Bird Flu Spread Among Cows | US News

Milk will undergo testing for bird flu throughout the US as part of efforts to manage a virus that is spreading among farms.

A strain of the virus referred to as H5N1 – which has also been detected in birds in the UK – was first identified in dairy cows in the US in March.

Since that time, more than 700 herds across 15 states have been infected, leading the government to mandate testing of raw or unpasteurized milk starting from 16 December.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated this initiative would provide farms with “greater confidence,” adding: “It will set us on a course to swiftly control and halt the virus’s transmission nationwide.”

At least 58 individuals in the US have contracted bird flu, primarily farm workers who experienced mild symptoms, though the overall risk to the public remains low.

Pasteurization or heat treatment eliminates the virus in milk, ensuring it is safe for consumption; however, officials continue to advise against consuming it raw.

Dairy farmers and processors nationwide have been hesitant to test animals or milk for the virus due to concerns over financial impacts.

Nevertheless, Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, has advocated for comprehensive milk testing, supported by vets, farmers, scientists, and academics.

“This is a positive step forward,” he remarked. “There is a growing recognition that we need a better understanding of the situation.”

According to the government directive, handlers of raw milk designated for pasteurization must provide samples for testing upon request.

It is mandatory to report positive test results to the US Department of Agriculture, along with basic information from herd owners to aid in disease tracking.

In the UK, health authorities are preparing over five million doses of a bird flu vaccine after securing a manufacturing contract.

This vaccine is intended solely for use if the same strain impacting cows in the US – H5N1 – were to begin spreading among humans in the UK.

Last month, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed bird flu cases at a poultry farm in Yorkshire.