The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy to address H5N1 infections in U.S. dairy herds. The measure builds on steps already take

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Friday announced a new national milk testing order to check for H5N1 bird flu. It requires raw unpasteurized milk samples nationwide sent to USDA for testing.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the move will "put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.”

Nearly a year after a wild bird infected with H5N1 avian flu presumably passed its viral baggage to a dairy cow in the Texas panhandle — which has subsequently led to the infection of more than 700 herds nationwide and sickened at least 32 dairy workers — the nation’s agriculture department announced Friday that it will sample the nation’s milk supply to test for the virus.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking further steps to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle by launching a national milk testing program. The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) requires raw milk samples from across the country to be collected and tested for HPAI.

USDA is issuing a new federal order, as well as accompanying guidance, requiring that raw (unpasteurized) milk samples nationwide be collected and shared with USDA for testing.

New Federal Order Will Require National Milk Testing and Support State Officials and Dairy Regulators; Builds on Actions to Protect Farms, Farmworkers and Communities from H5N1 Avian Influenza 6, 2024 - WASHINGTON - Today,

After drinking the unpasteurized raw milk, the child experienced fever and vomiting from what local health officials said was a suspected case of bird flu.