USDA orders testing of raw milk for bird flu to begin on Dec. 16. Testing is 'precautionary' and will aid virus containment

Mandatory milk testing will begin in six states
on Dec. 16. (Adobe Stock photo)

The Department of Agriculture has expanded its response to bird flu infections in U.S. dairy herds by ordering milk testing to begin on Dec. 16 -- "a step public health experts have clamored for following the detection of the H5N1 virus in U.S. dairy herds for the first time this spring," report Mark Johnson and Sabrina Malhiof The Washington Post. "The mandatory testing system is designed to identify which states and specific herds have been affected by the H5N1 virus." 

California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania will be the first states to roll out mandated testing. The Post reports, "An industry representative in Pennsylvania, which ranks second in the nation for the number of dairy farms, said monitoring efforts are precautionary. No cases of H5N1 have been detected in the state’s dairy herds to date." So far, H5N1 infections have been reported in 720 herds in 15 states.

The mandate includes raw milk testing by "dairy farms, bulk milk transporters, milk transfer stations and dairy processing facilities," Johnson and Malhiof explain. "Herd owners whose cattle test positive for the virus must provide information for contact tracing and disease surveillance. Private laboratories and state veterinarians must report all milk that tests positive to the USDA."

Overall, dairy farmers and processors "have been reluctant to test animals or milk for the virus as they fear economic or other repercussions," reports Rachel Dobkin of Newsweek. However, as the virus spread, some farmer sentiments have changed. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, told Dobkin,"It's another step in the right direction. They're coming around that we need a better handle on it."

Health officials maintain that "the risk to people from bird flu remains low, and pasteurization kills the virus in milk, making it safe to drink," Dobkin adds. "Federal officials continue to warn against drinking raw milk."