Three of America’s top milk-producing states, Texas, Wisconsin, and Idaho, are not participating in the federal surveillance testing for bird flu, despite a new variant being found in dairy cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture began a voluntary milk-testing program in December after the virus was discovered in cattle in March 2024. The recent avian influenza outbreak has led to the deaths of millions of birds and increased egg prices.
While the risk to humans remains low, experts emphasize the importance of nationwide milk testing to contain virus cases. Texas, the first state to have a known case of bird flu in cattle, has deemed surveillance milk testing unnecessary due to the absence of active cases in commercial cattle and poultry, citing concerns about additional regulations and costs. However, efforts are underway to develop a surveillance testing program with federal officials.
The USDA aims to enroll all 48 continental states in the testing program, with nearly 40 states participating currently. Milk testing is crucial for monitoring virus evolution and human transmission risks. Bird flu found in milk is effectively eliminated through pasteurization, but farmworkers may still be at risk from infected cattle and raw milk.
Public health experts stress the significance of early detection through milk testing to contain the spread of the virus, protect workers, and prevent human infections. States like Colorado have implemented weekly milk testing after outbreaks in dairy cattle to swiftly identify and contain the disease. Testing is conducted using raw milk samples from bulk silos, with follow-up testing and tracing back to individual farms.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
