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The Ministry of Agriculture announced on Friday that it will begin testing domestic milk in response to continued spread of bird flu H5N1.
Federal order would require it raw milk samples distributed across the country for testing. The department said the “National Milk Testing Strategy” will increase understanding of the spread of the virus in the US, support the implementation of improved biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of transmission to other livestock and inform efforts to protect farmers.
The order requires any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or milk processing facility that ships or holds milk intended for pasteurization to share raw milk samples when requested.
It also requires herd owners with cattle that are positive for bird flu provide epidemiological information that could assist in contact tracing to assess the spread of disease.
The order also requires private laboratories and state veterinarians to report positive test results on raw milk samples taken as part of the strategy. Some states are already conducting that testing, but the initial round is scheduled for December 16. The first states included are California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
“Since the first discovery of HPAI in livestock, [the department] has worked with our federal, state and industry partners to quickly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on previous steps and provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in statement.
“Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and ranchers better confidence in the safety of their animals and their ability to protect themselves, and this will put us on the path to rapidly controlling and stopping the spread of the virus across the country,” he 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 [the department] and to all interested parties in the continued testing of H5N1 in retail samples of milk and milk products from across the country to ensure the safety of commercial supplies of pasteurized milk,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Becerra said the Department of Health and Human Services will continue this work “as long and as necessary.”
The department’s website indicates there was Infected 720 dairy herds with the virus in 15 countries.
Most of those cases are in California.
The department’s announcement comes after the recall of raw milk expanded. Public health experts have warned consumers not to drink raw milk or raw milk products because of the increased risk of foodborne illness, including outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria.
Raw milk products are not pasteurizeda heating process that kills bacteria and viruses like bird flu.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.