National Milk Supply Must Be Tested for Bird Flu Under Federal Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a federal order requiring the national milk supply to be tested for bird flu.
Testing Mandate
Entities handling raw milk, such as bulk milk transporters or dairy processors, must collect and share samples with the USDA upon request. The goal is to quickly identify which dairy herds are affected by H5N1, the strain of bird flu causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows, and prevent transmission among livestock.
Impact on Dairy Herds
As of Thursday, 718 dairy herds have been affected in 15 states. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that the testing will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and put the country on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.
Rollout of Testing
The initial round of testing will begin on December 16 and will start with six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
Additional Requirements
Dairy herd owners with cattle that test positive for bird flu must provide information that can help with surveillance. The USDA previously issued a federal order in April requiring lactating dairy cows to be tested for bird flu before being shipped across state lines, and requiring private labs and state veterinarians to report positive cases based on those tests. Those requirements remain in place under the new order as well.
Reason for Urgency
The order responds to renewed urgency to address the rapid spread of bird flu among livestock in recent months, which scientists worry could eventually pose a more widespread risk to human health.
Human Health Risks
Drinking raw milk has risen in popularity, despite warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it might be possible to contract bird flu that way. Several studies have shown that commercial pasteurization – using heat to treat milk – inactivates the virus, making milk safe for consumption.
California Recall
In November, California health officials detected bird flu in multiple batches of raw milk from a local dairy farm. On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health announced a broad recall of the farm’s raw milk and cream on retail shelves – though no human bird flu cases have been linked to the products.
CDC Confirmed Cases
To date, the CDC has confirmed 58 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. The vast majority were exposed to infected cattle or poultry.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bird flu in humans have been mild, and often include pinkeye, coughs or sneezes. However, the CDC recommends that anyone who has been exposed to bird flu get tested, as some cases may be asymptomatic.
Conclusion
The USDA’s testing mandate aims to quickly identify affected dairy herds and prevent transmission among livestock. The order is a response to the rapid spread of bird flu among livestock, which poses a risk to human health. The importance of commercial pasteurization in inactivating the virus cannot be overstated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the USDA testing the national milk supply for bird flu?
A: The USDA is testing the national milk supply to quickly identify affected dairy herds and prevent transmission among livestock.
Q: How many dairy herds have been affected by bird flu?
A: As of Thursday, 718 dairy herds have been affected in 15 states.
Q: What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
A: Symptoms of bird flu in humans have been mild, and often include pinkeye, coughs or sneezes.
Q: Can people pass bird flu to each other?
A: There is no evidence yet that people can pass bird flu to each other, but scientists are concerned that H5N1 might evolve in that direction, which could lead to the next human pandemic.
