USDA issues order for raw milk samples nationwide to be tested for bird flu

Nationwide raw samples will now be collected and shared with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test for avian flu, according to a report. new federal order published by the agency on Friday.

The new USDA federal order includes three new requirements. Raw milk samples must now be shared upon request by dairy farms, bulk milk transporters or dairy processing facilities.

Herd owners whose cattle test positive for avian influenza must provide information to enable health authorities to conduct contact tracing and monitor the disease. Private laboratories and state veterinarians must now report positive bird flu test results to the USDA.

The decision comes after the bird flu virus was found in samples of raw milk from a California farm, which recalled all of its raw milk products earlier this week. The farm was also placed under quarantine by state health officials.

The USDA order marks the start of the agency’s National Milk Testing Strategy, a program intended to strengthen monitoring of the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds and better understand how avian influenza spreads.

“Since the first detection in livestock, USDA has worked with our federal, state and industry partners to quickly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press release. “This new milk testing strategy will build on actions taken to date and provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds…and it will put us on a path to monitoring and a rapid halt to the spread of the virus nationally.

In April, there were reports of bird flu fragments found in samples of pasteurized milk.

The fragments, however, were inactive remnants of the virus; they could not cause infection because commercial milk is pasteurized.

The USDA has already warned of possible dangers associated with the consumption of raw, unpasteurized milk due to high risks of foodborne illness.

The risks of raw milk as it relates to avian flu were highlighted Tuesday when Raw Farm, LLC voluntarily recalled all raw whole milk and cream products still on store shelves after multiple detections of the virus of avian flu in the company’s milk and dairy products, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Authorities also placed the farm under quarantine and suspended any further distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced starting November 27.

As of Friday, no human cases of bird flu have been linked to Raw Farm products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it considers exposure to raw milk without personal protective equipment a “high-risk exposure event” for avian flu.

The United States has been facing an outbreak of bird flu since April, when the first human case was reported.

As of Thursday, 58 human cases were confirmed in seven states, according to CDC data. California has the highest number of cases with 32.

Almost all confirmed cases have had direct contact with infected livestock or infected livestock. So far, all cases of bird flu in the United States have been mild, and the patients have all recovered after receiving antiviral drugs.

Signs and symptoms Infections in humans often include sore throat, cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.

Infections can range from no symptoms or mild illness, such as flu-like symptoms, to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia, that could require hospitalizations, according to the CDC.