(VOR News) – The U.S. government issued a federal order Friday requiring the country’s milk supply to be tested for Bird Flu in an attempt to slow the virus’s rapid spread among dairy herds.
This occurs when authorities deal with the virus’s quick spread. Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, told Reuters that the rule made this condition mandatory.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that since March, the Bird Flu has spread to more than 500 dairy cattle in California, the state that produces the most milk.
At least 700 dairy herds statewide have contracted bird flu.
As a result, there have been worries raised over the effects it will have on farmers and the milk supply, as well as the danger the virus poses to human health as it spreads.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States of America, the virus has infected about 60 people since April. Workers who work on dairy and poultry farms that are impacted by the disease make up the great majority of these individuals.
There is a low danger of bird flu for the general public, according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention officials, and reports indicate that the symptoms have been modest.
In October, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) first declared that it will start testing milk statewide. This announcement was issued in response to business and veterinary associations calling for more viral surveillance. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture did not provide any details on the extent of the initiative or how it would be implemented.
Vilsack said that the method of testing will be used first in California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. Samples would have to be taken from bulk milk tanks and dairy factories once a month or once a week. Oregon will also put the plan into action.
Bird Flu has not been reported in the three states following this one.
Referring to ongoing research, Vilsack said, “It gives us the opportunity to get possibly a heads up about perhaps new viruses in areas of a state that currently has the virus, or with new states.”
According to Vilsack, the testing will start on December 16th, before the agency starts functioning.
Whether the virus is found in the initial sampling will influence the testing rate, according to a statement from Rosemary Sifford, senior veterinary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Farm owners whose animals test positive for the virus must notify the agency of their animals’ movements and other details, and farms and processors must provide raw milk for sampling. Additionally, the order mandates that raw milk be made available for tasting.
Testing is now limited to nursing dairy cattle crossing state lines and must be done by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The only other April government bird flu mandate matches this.
Both federal instructions will be in place for an indefinite period of time, according to Vilsack. He also mentioned that the testing plan was created in collaboration with state officials, industry representatives, and veterinarians.
A recall of Raw Farm’s milk and cream products manufactured this week has been ordered by the state of California due to the presence of Bird Flu in retail items and bulk milk producers.
The Food and Drug Administration warns against eating raw milk because it contains several viruses, including the avian bird flu. Other harmful viruses can also be present in raw milk. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that pasteurised dairy products are safe to consume because these bacteria are eliminated throughout the production process.
There are an estimated 1,100 dairies in California, meaning that nearly half of them were contaminated during the Bird Flu outbreak. The California Milk Advisory Board is the source of this data.
SOURCE: USN
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