The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mandated raw milk testing across the nation to address the spread of bird flu, marking a significant step in controlling the H5N1 virus. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the federal order on Friday, launching a comprehensive national milk testing strategy.
Multi-Stage Testing Strategy
Under the new directive, samples from the raw milk supply will be collected and tested upon request. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the initiative’s potential to protect farmworkers, ensure animal safety, and curb the virus’s nationwide spread.
Starting December 16, the first round of testing will focus on six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. This strategy builds on an April federal order requiring dairy cattle to test negative for H5N1 before interstate movement.
Bird Flu Cases Surge
The USDA has intensified its response following outbreaks in older dairy cows in Texas and Kansas earlier this year. As of Friday, approximately 720 cases across 15 states have been confirmed, with California reporting over 500 since March.
