The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new federal order requiring raw and unpasteurized milk samples to be shared with the USDA for testing. This requirement is part of a larger testing strategy following an outbreak of the bird flu virus, HPAI, in cattle earlier this year. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated that the new milk testing strategy will help states protect the health of their dairy herds and better understand how the virus spreads.
The National Milk Testing Strategy aims to swiftly identify affected herds and curb future cases while decreasing the risk of infection to other animals. The federal order has three requirements: sharing raw milk samples, providing information about contact tracing and disease surveillance for infected cattle, and reporting positive test results. The first round of testing will start in mid-December. The goal is to provide a roadmap for states to effectively respond to outbreaks and protect public health.
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