The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a new order mandating avian flu testing for all lactating dairy cows that are transported between states. This measure comes after testing revealed fragments of H5N1 viral material in the country’s milk supply, although officials emphasize that active viruses have been eliminated during pasteurization. The USDA has the capacity to conduct tens of thousands of tests daily, which will aid in determining the distribution and potential spread of H5N1. Currently, H5N1 has affected poultry flocks, wild birds, and dozens of dairy herds across eight states, as well as two dairy workers who became infected with the virus and 44 individuals who are being monitored for possible exposure. Human health risks remain low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as no mutations have been detected that would increase transmissibility to or between people.
USDA Mandates Avian Flu Testing for Dairy Cows Crossing State Lines
