Government Orders Milk Testing for Bird Flu

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a new directive. Starting December 16, raw milk from dairy farms and processors across the country must be tested for bird flu upon request. This effort begins in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. The goal is to monitor and control the spread of the Type A H5N1 virus, which was first detected in U. S. dairy cows back in March. Since then, over 700 herds in 15 states have been infected. The USDA hopes this testing will help farmers and farmworkers feel more secure about the safety of their animals and themselves. It's also part of a broader plan to quickly stop the virus's spread nationwide, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Health experts have been asking for nationwide milk testing for some time now. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, thinks this is a step in the right direction. He believes it’s crucial to get a better handle on the situation. Dairy farmers and processors have been hesitant to test for the virus due to potential economic impacts. However, the National Milk Producers Federation supports the USDA's efforts to eliminate the virus. Under the new federal order, dairy farmers and those handling raw milk must provide samples for testing if requested. They must also report any positive tests to the USDA and provide information for disease tracing in cattle. This move follows an April 24 federal order requiring testing of certain dairy cattle before they could move between states. Despite this, the virus has continued to spread. Raw milk from infected cows has shown high levels of live virus. In the U. S. , at least 58 people have been infected with bird flu, mostly farmworkers who had close contact with infected cows or poultry. The virus has also spread among wild birds and other animals. The USDA continues to advise against drinking raw milk, which can contain various harmful germs. In California, a farm was quarantined and milk distribution halted after bird flu was detected in raw milk sold in stores. Raw Farm of Fresno voluntarily recalled milk and cream produced after November 9.