The U.S. government has issued an order to test the nation’s milk supply for bird flu in order to monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows more effectively.

Raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors across the country will now be tested upon request starting December 16, as announced by the Agriculture Department. The testing initiative will kick off in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Notably, Colorado had already mandated licensed dairies in July to submit weekly milk samples for testing in the state.

The nationwide testing effort aims to “contain and ultimately eliminate the virus,” known as Type A H5N1, which was first identified in U.S. dairy cows in March. Since then, over 700 herds in 15 states have been confirmed to be infected, with more than 60 herds affected in Colorado alone, according to the state health department.

“This will provide farms and farmworkers with greater confidence in the safety of their animals and their ability to protect themselves, paving the way for swift control and containment of the virus nationwide,” stated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Health officials have reassured the public that the risk to humans from bird flu remains low, as pasteurization effectively eliminates the virus from milk, rendering it safe for consumption.

Various stakeholders, including veterinarians, farmers, scientists, and academics, have advocated for nationwide milk testing for months to enhance monitoring and control efforts.

Industry support for USDA’s virus elimination endeavors has been significant, with the federal order now requiring dairy farmers and raw milk handlers to provide samples for bird flu testing upon request. Positive test results must be reported to the USDA, and herd owners must furnish basic information for disease tracing in cattle.

The recent order follows an April 24 federal mandate that necessitated testing of specific dairy cattle before interstate movement and mandated reporting of any positive tests. Despite this earlier order, the virus has continued to spread, noted Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Testing has shown that raw milk from infected cows carries high viral loads.

Bird flu has infected at least 58 individuals in the U.S., including 10 cases in Colorado, mainly among farm workers who had close contact with infected cows or poultry, including their milk.

Colorado has witnessed significant poultry culls this year due to outbreaks, according to state data.

The virus has also been spreading among wild birds and various other animals.

Public health warnings persist against consuming raw milk, as it can harbor harmful germs. In California, a farm was quarantined, and milk distribution was halted after bird flu virus was detected in raw milk sold in stores. Raw Farm of Fresno issued a voluntary recall of raw milk and cream produced after November 9.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP retains sole responsibility for all content.

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Originally Published: December 6, 2024 at 1:44 PM MST