The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a National Milk Testing Strategy today to build on state and federal measures to detect and control bird flu in the nation’s milk supply.
Mandatory testing of raw, unpasteurized milk will be implemented by a new federal order announced by the USDA. The order also requires herd owners with cattle testing positive for the virus to provide epidemiological information to help the government trace the disease, and it requires private laboratories and state veterinarians to report positive test results to the USDA.
Finally, the federal order will require the sharing of raw milk samples from any dairy farms, bulk milk transporters, or dairy processing facilities upon request from the department.
“Since the first HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, was first detected in dairy cattle in March and since then has spread through herd after herd in numerous states. While pasteurization kills the virus in milk, raw milk can spread the virus.
The National Milk Testing Strategy will follow six stages to work with each state to test dairy cattle and milk to detect and control further spread of bird flu. Those stages are detailed in the press release. Neighboring Mississippi will be one of the six states to begin the new testing regime next week.Previously, the Arkansas Times reported on the risks of bird flu spread in Arkansas through raw milk in the wake of efforts to deregulate access to the product.
