By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its testing of unpasteurized milk for bird flu (H5N1) to include more states. Indiana and Ohio are now part of the second group of states added to the federal testing initiative. Other states involved are California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. This move comes as California has declared a state of emergency due to bird flu infections among its dairy cattle.
So far this year, 865 dairy herds across 16 states, including Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and others, have tested positive for the virus. To enhance monitoring, the USDA is implementing a bulk milk testing program, which will be adjusted based on whether infected milk is detected. Indiana plans to start bulk testing by January 2025, providing samples from processing plants and silos that aggregate milk from multiple farms. This approach allows the testing of milk from many farms at once, increasing efficiency.
Any positive test results will prompt further investigation to trace the virus's origin. The USDA’s goal is to contain and eliminate the virus from the national dairy herd, noting that pasteurization eliminates the bird flu virus, making milk safe to consume. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to warn against drinking raw milk due to potential health risks.
While the spread of bird flu among dairy cows poses limited risk to the public, experts remain concerned about its potential to spill over to humans. So far, 37 human cases linked to dairy cattle have been reported, most of which have come from California. On December 18, the CDC confirmed the first severe case of bird flu in a Louisiana man who had been exposed to infected backyard birds. Despite these incidents, the CDC states that the risk to the public remains low.
The USDA and CDC are continuing efforts to track and manage bird flu, ensuring public safety while minimizing the virus's impact on dairy production.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Indiana, Livestock, Dairy Cattle