Milk to be tested for bird flu nationwide, USDA announces

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Nationwide beverage investigating was announced by the USDA connected Friday to assistance national officials show H5N1 vertebrate flu successful the country's beverage supplies and dairy herds.

The determination is portion of the USDA's National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) and volition necessitate that earthy (unpasteurized) beverage samples nationwide beryllium collected and shared with USDA for testing.

The nationwide investigating announcement does not mention immoderate circumstantial beverage producers for investigating - but alternatively describes the determination arsenic a means of rapidly identifying dairy herds affected by H5N1 vertebrate flu and providing a roadmap for states to support the wellness of their herds.

"Among galore outcomes, this volition springiness farmers and farmworkers amended assurance successful the information of their animals and quality to support themselves, and it volition enactment america connected a way to rapidly controlling and stopping the virus’ dispersed nationwide," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

According to the USDA, the bid released connected Friday requires:

• The sharing of earthy beverage samples, upon request
• Herd owners with affirmative cattle to supply epidemiological accusation that enables activities specified arsenic interaction tracing and illness surveillance
• Private laboratories and authorities veterinarians study affirmative results to USDA that travel from tests done connected earthy beverage samples drawn arsenic portion of the NMTS

“This investigating strategy is simply a captious portion of our ongoing efforts to support the wellness and information of individuals and communities nationwide,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.