USDA Orders Bird Flu Testing of Milk Supply

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) instituted a National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which builds on measures taken by federal and state partners since the beginning of the bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle in March. As of Dec. 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 58 bird flu-infected humans in the U.S. this year.

On Dec. 6, the USDA issued a federal order and accompanying guidance, requiring that raw (unpasteurized) milk samples nationwide be collected and shared with USDA for testing. This new guidance from USDA, which was developed with significant input from state, veterinary, and public health stakeholders, will facilitate comprehensive bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, surveillance of the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds.

“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” said Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary. “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.”

The federal order requires 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. Second, the federal order requires herd owners with cattle that tested positive to bird flu to provide epidemiological information that enables activities such as contact tracing and disease surveillance. Finally, like USDA’s April 24 federal order, it requires that private laboratories and state veterinarians report positive results to USDA that come from tests done on raw milk samples drawn as part of the NMTS. The first round of silo testing under the federal order and the NMTS is scheduled to begin the week of Dec. 16, although some states are already conducting testing compatible with the NMTS.

This new federal order does not override or supersede USDA’s April 24 Federal Order, which still requires the mandatory testing of lactating dairy cows prior to interstate shipment and requires that all privately owned laboratories and state veterinarians report positive test results connected with those tests.

In late November, the California Department of Public Health warned consumers and recalled whole raw milk due to the detection of bird flu virus. California has recorded the highest number of infected cattle and, in turn, bird flu-infected humans at 32.