(The Center Square) – The federal government issued an order Friday that mandates the national milk supply be tested for bird flu.
Bird flu has infected more than 500 dairy herds in California and more than 700 nationwide since March. Almost 60 people contracted the virus, mostly farm workers, according to the government.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy. The effort builds on earlier measures taken by USDA and federal and state regulators since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March.
On Friday, USDA issued a new Federal Order, requiring that raw, or unpasteurized, milk samples nationwide be collected and shared with USDA for testing. This new guidance will allow for comprehensive H5N1 surveillance of the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds, according to the agency.
“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,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”
The milk testing is designed to increase the agency’s understanding of the spread of the virus in the U.S. through a mandatory testing system that will help identify specific herds affected with H5N1.
“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, and we continue to work closely with USDA and all stakeholders on continued testing for H5N1 in retail milk and dairy samples from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply.”
