The USDA has issued an order for raw milk samples nationwide to be tested for the bird flu

A new government order issued by USDA on Friday states that raw samples will now be collected and shared with the agency nationwide for bird flu testing.

Three new rules are part of USDA’s recent federal order. Raw milk samples are now required to be provided upon request by dairy farms, bulk milk carriers, and dairy processing facilities.

In order for health officials to conduct contact tracing and disease surveillance, herd owners who have cattle that test positive for bird flu are required to notify them. State veterinarians and commercial labs are now required by USDA to report positive results from avian flu tests.

The action follows this week’s recall of all raw milk products due to the discovery of a bird flu virus in raw milk samples from a California farm. The farm was also placed under quarantine by state health officials.

The USDA decision initiates the National Milk Testing Strategy, which aims to increase knowledge of the spread of avian flu and enhance surveillance of the country’s dairy herds and milk supply.

USDA has collaborated with federal, state, and industry partners to promptly identify and address impacted herds, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. We will be on pace to swiftly contain and halt the virus’s spread throughout the nation thanks to this new milk testing policy, which builds on earlier actions and gives states a road map for safeguarding the health of their dairy herds.

Reports of avian flu particles found in pasteurized milk samples surfaced in April.

However, because the commercial milk supply is pasteurized, the bits were inactive viral remnants that could not cause infection.

Due to the higher risk of foodborne illness, the USDA has previously issued warnings regarding the possible risks of consuming raw, unpasteurized milk.

Following multiple detections of the bird flu virus in the company’s milk and dairy supply, Raw Farm, LLC voluntarily recalled all raw whole milk and cream products that were still on store shelves on Tuesday, highlighting the risks of raw milk in relation to bird flu, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Additionally, authorities have placed the farm under quarantine and stopped distributing any new raw milk, cream, kefir, butter, or cheese products made on or after November 27.

Raw Farm products have not been connected to any human instances of avian flu as of Friday.

Exposure to raw milk without personal protective equipment is considered a high-risk avian flu exposure event by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the first human case was reported in April, the United States has been battling an outbreak of bird flu, often known as avian influenza.

According to CDC data, seven states have confirmed 58 human cases as of Thursday. With 32 cases, California has the most cases.

Nearly all verified cases included direct interaction with livestock or cattle that were ill. Every instance of bird flu that has occurred in the US to date has been mild, and patients have recovered after taking antiviral medication.

A sore throat, cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and shortness of breath are all indications of infection in people. Seizures, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are less frequent symptoms.

The CDC states that infections can result in mild illness, such flu-like symptoms, or more severe illness, like pneumonia, which may require hospitalization.

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