Bird Flu Spreads in Cattle: Some States Not Part of US Milk Testing

Gap in National Effort to Identify and Detect Virus

Three of America’s top milk-producing states aren’t a part of federal surveillance testing for bird flu, even as a new variant is turning up in dairy cattle, in what some public health experts say is a troubling gap in the national effort to identify and detect the spread of the virus.

USDA’s Voluntary Milk-Testing Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture started a voluntary milk-testing program in December, after the virus was found to have jumped to cattle in March 2024. The recent outbreak of avian influenza in the U.S. was first detected in 2022, but has picked up steam over the last year, decimating poultry farms nationwide, killing tens of millions of birds, and driving up the price of eggs.

Importance of Nationwide Testing

While the risk to humans remains low, many public and animal health experts argue that broad, nationwide testing of milk is critical to containing virus cases that might otherwise go undetected, giving the variants more opportunities to spread to animals – and to humans.

Expert Opinion

“It is incredibly difficult to control a disease of national importance unless we have a robust surveillance system in place,” said Dr. K. Fred Gingrich II, executive director of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, which represents cow veterinarians.

“If we were testing every dairy, I don’t think you’d have any cases slipping through the cracks.”

States Not Participating in Testing Program

Yet Texas, Wisconsin, and Idaho, three of the country’s top five milk-producing states, aren’t participating in the voluntary federal testing program. And though there are efforts underway to get them on board, it’s not clear when they will join, or how long it will take.

State-by-State Updates

Texas had the first known case of bird flu in cattle, the first person believed to be infected by a mammal, and a case in dairy cattle as recently as December. But the state’s agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller, said surveillance milk testing was unnecessary, since there are currently no active cases of bird flu in the state’s commercial cattle or poultry.

Wisconsin said it “continues to work toward” enrolling in the USDA’s testing program and is working closely with state and federal partners to monitor bird flu developments, according to a spokesperson for the state agriculture department.

Idaho did not respond to requests for comment but is not currently participating in the program, according to the USDA.

Importance of Early Detection

Bird flu, like many viruses, can often be detected through testing days before dairy cows exhibit any symptoms, health experts said, which can help farmers quickly take steps to contain the virus, quarantine affected animals, and test humans who were potentially exposed.

Conclusion

The detection of bird flu in dairy cattle is a serious concern, and it is crucial that all states participate in the USDA’s testing program to ensure the early detection and containment of the virus. The risk to humans remains low, but it is essential to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current situation with bird flu in the US?
A: The recent outbreak of avian influenza in the US has picked up steam over the last year, decimating poultry farms nationwide, killing tens of millions of birds, and driving up the price of eggs.

Q: How many cases of bird flu have been reported in the US?
A: One person has died and at least 68 people have been infected in the US since the beginning of 2024, most often after close or prolonged contact with infected animals.

Q: What is the purpose of the USDA’s milk-testing program?
A: The program aims to detect and contain the spread of bird flu in dairy cattle, ensuring the early detection of cases and preventing the virus from spreading to humans and other animals.

Q: Why are some states not participating in the testing program?
A: Texas, Wisconsin, and Idaho, three of the country’s top five milk-producing states, are not participating in the voluntary federal testing program, although efforts are underway to get them on board.

Q: What is the current situation with pasteurization?
A: Pasteurization effectively kills bird flu found in milk, rendering it safe to drink, but farmworkers are still coming into contact with raw milk and cattle that could be infected.