The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new order empowering the agency to test the milk supply for Avian Flu (bird flu). The virus has ravaged dairy and poultry farms throughout the US since it was first detected in a dairy cow in March of this year. Nationwide outbreaks have impacted 710 dairy herds over 15 states. Human cases have been confirmed in 58 individuals, most of whom were farmworkers. However, this number is widely considered an undercount because testing has been sparse.
Investigations have found that Bird Flu has spread largely uncontrolled through dairy farms. Once a cow is infected and has with high levels of the virus in their system, Avian Flu can spread widely throughout the milking operation. This contamination can occur via other animals present such as rodents or from workers with viral particles on their clothing or equipment.
The new USDA testing program aims to “identify where the disease is present, monitor trends, and help states identify potentially affected herds”, the department said. The program’s rollout begin in 6 states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The USDA order also compels private testing laboratories to report positive cases the the government.
