By Jamie Martin
Minnesota dairy herds have been officially designated as “unaffected” by the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This milestone follows four straight months of raw milk testing without a single positive result.
The USDA required nationwide testing after several states confirmed the virus in dairy cattle. Minnesota had reported nine cases the previous year, prompting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to collect monthly raw milk samples starting in February.
“Every single time milk is picked up from a dairy farm, there’s a sample collected,” said Nicole Neeser, director of the state’s ag department dairy and meat inspection division. “Every day of every year, all the time.”
The results have been encouraging. Only one avian influenza case surfaced in March, and none have been detected since then. “The virus itself has been fairly quiet in Minnesota in this calendar year, which is really fantastic,” said Neeser. “However, we know from the history of the virus that it can come and go with the seasonality.”
Now that the USDA recognizes Minnesota as virus free, raw milk testing will move to a bi monthly schedule. Despite the reduced frequency, Neeser stressed that monitoring will continue until every U.S. state achieves the same status.
The USDA’s designation highlights the effectiveness of Minnesota’s biosecurity efforts and provides assurance that the state’s dairy products remain safe and reliable for consumers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: National