USDA Directs Testing of Raw Milk Samples for Bird Flu
The USDA announced that bird flu was initially detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, leading to a mandate for testing cattle for the virus prior to interstate travel.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has instructed dairy producers to collaborate with the federal agency in testing raw milk for the bird flu virus (H5N1).
“Among the anticipated results, this initiative will provide farmers and farm personnel with increased confidence in the safety of their livestock and their capability to safeguard themselves, while also enabling us to swiftly manage and halt the virus’s proliferation across the nation.”
The USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) mandates the collection and testing of unpasteurized milk samples at USDA laboratories “to better inform biosecurity containment strategies and to assist state-led initiatives aimed at reducing risks for farm workers who may come into contact with animals infected with H5N1.”
The USDA recently highlighted that bird flu was first identified in dairy cattle in March 2024, which triggered a directive to test cattle for the virus prior to interstate transportation.
This strategy has proven effective in mitigating the spread to other states, according to the USDA.
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Nevertheless, additional actions are required to “contain and eradicate” the infection among livestock, as declared by the USDA, following the discovery of the virus in raw milk.
The USDA is collaborating with private and state veterinarians to carry out the initial round of tests at local and farm levels “until herds in a given area are confirmed to be free of the virus.”
“The USDA continues to stress to farmers across the nation that biosecurity remains the most effective weapon against the spread of H5N1, and farms should maintain strict biosecurity measures even if the virus has not been found in their state or nearby,” the USDA emphasized. “Data accumulated over the past seven months indicates that H5N1 can be transferred via equipment, individuals, or other items transported from one farm to another, including between dairy and poultry facilities.”
The NMTS federal mandate issued on Friday compels raw milk samples “from any entity responsible for dairy farming, bulk milk transporters, bulk milk transfer stations, or dairy processing facilities” to be shared with the USDA.
Additionally, herd owners whose cattle have tested positive for bird flu are required to “supply epidemiological data that facilitates activities such as contact tracing and disease surveillance.”
“Lastly, similar to the USDA’s April 24 Federal Order, it mandates that private laboratories and state veterinarians report positive findings to the USDA arising from tests conducted on raw milk samples collected as part of the NMTS,” the USDA stated.
The initial round of testing is scheduled to commence the week of Dec. 16.
The USDA clarified that the new order does not substitute the April mandate for mandatory dairy cow testing but rather complements it.
The testing will unfold in five phases: monitoring plant silos, assessing state outcomes, addressing the virus in impacted states, confirming the absence of the virus in unaffected states, and “demonstrating freedom from H5 in U.S. Dairy Cattle,” according to the USDA.
“This testing initiative is a vital component of our continuous efforts to uphold the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” stated U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
