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USDA Announces Federal Order to Test Raw Milk Samples for H5N1 Bird Flu
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Key Takeaways
- The USDA's National Milk Testing Strategy mandates raw milk testing for H5N1 to monitor virus spread in dairy herds.
- The virus has been detected in 720 herds across 15 states, with 58 human infections, mostly farmworkers.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) guidance will help expedite H5N1 bird flu surveillance within the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds.
H5N1, Bird Flu, Influenza | Image credit: Mikko Palonkorpi | stock.adobe.com
Today, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a new federal order in which raw—or unpasteurized—milk samples nationwide will be collected and shared with the USDA for testing for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. This new guidance was developed with significant input from state, veterinary, and public health stakeholders in an effort to facilitate comprehensive virus surveillance within the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds.1
These efforts follow the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) confirmation of individuals within the US testing positive for H5N1 virus. Some reports are from April 20242, June 20243, and September 2024.4 Currently, there is an outbreak of the virus within herds of dairy cattle, which was first detected in March 2024.1
This new initiative, the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), is designed to increase the USDA’s and public health partners’ understanding of the virus’s spread in the US through a structured, uniform, and mandatory testing system that will help quickly identify which states—as well as the specific dairy cattle herds within them—are affected by H5N1. From there, enhanced biosecurity measures to decrease the risk of virus transmission to other livestock will be implemented, helping inform critical efforts to better protect farmworkers. These implementations will help lower the risk of exposure, and the USDA notes that this step can be key for states and farmers to contain—and eventually eliminate—H5N1 infections from livestock.1
According to The New York Times, the virus has been detected in 720 herds throughout 15 states. Additionally, at least 58 people—most of which are farmworkers—have been infected. This is believed to be an underestimate because of the lack of mandatory testing. The first round of testing under the new rules is scheduled to commence the week of December 161,5 in California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.5
“Since the first HPAI detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds,” Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary, said in a news release. “Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”1
The new federal order will include the following 3 requirements when testing milk samples: sharing of raw milk samples—upon request—from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization; herd owners with positive cattle must provide epidemiological information that permits certain activities (eg, contact tracing, disease surveillance); and private laboratories and state veterinarians are required to report positive results to USDA that come from tests performed on raw milk samples drawn as part of the NMTS.1
Typical symptoms of H5N1 bird flu can be mild (eg, upper respiratory symptoms or eye infection), with more severe cases similar to pneumonia—which can include fever, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing—and potentially lead to hospitalization. Other less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures.3
The CDC has said that flu antiviral medications are considered the most effective treatment against bird flu, and although it is recommended that individuals receive their seasonal influenza vaccines to reduce the risk of infection, they will not protect against H5N1 bird flu. Additionally, the CDC recommends that individuals can practice protective actions by doing the following: avoid contact with wild and domestic birds that appear ill or have died and are confirmed or suspected to have the H5N1 virus; avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals and contaminated surfaces; consuming raw or unpasteurized milk products and uncooked or undercooked animal products (eg, poultry meat) from animals with bird flu; and traveling to other countries. Further, individuals who have been exposed to the virus are recommended to monitor for potential signs of illness for 10 days following the initial exposure event.3
“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, said in the news release. “Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, and we continue to work closely with USDA and all stakeholders on continued testing for H5N1 in retail milk and dairy samples from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply. We will continue this work with USDA for as long and as far as necessary.”1
Updates on H5N1 bird flu cases can be found through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as well as the CDC.
