The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an order requiring all lactating cows transported across state lines to undergo testing for the H5N1 avian flu virus. This move comes after fragments of the viral material were detected in the country’s milk supply, although officials emphasize that the fragments pose no threat to human health due to the pasteurization process. The USDA is equipped to conduct tens of thousands of tests daily, aiding in the assessment of H5N1 distribution and potential spread. No evidence suggests that the virus has become more transmissible to humans, and the risk to the public remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
