The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ordered nationwide testing of milk supplies following a surge in bird flu cases. The virus, first detected in a Texas cow in March, has now impacted over 710 dairy herds across 15 states, with California reporting the highest number of cases.
Under the new USDA directive, samples will be collected from dairy farms and during transportation or processing, and private labs must report any positive findings. The program will first roll out in California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania before expanding nationwide. The USDA says the testing will help identify the virus’s spread, monitor trends, and aid states in managing affected herds.
Buried deep in the NYT article “U.S. Milk to Be Tested for Bird Flu Virus“ are 2 facts that reveal this is a scamdemic:
“No one has yet been known to become ill from drinking raw milk,”
“The virus has now been detected in 720 herds in 15 states”https://t.co/ZqNL31holL
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 6, 2024
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that the testing initiative is aimed at bolstering confidence among farmers and farmworkers. “This effort is designed to ensure livestock safety and control the spread of the virus,” Vilsack said.
The virus has also led to 58 human infections, including a case involving a child in the San Francisco Bay Area. California health officials recently detected the virus in raw milk and cream products from Raw Farm in Fresno, prompting a recall and quarantine of the farm’s goods.
USDA demands national milk supply get tested for bird flu https://t.co/yazAjwAPcc
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 8, 2024
While the exact risks to humans remain unclear, scientists warn that infected milk may pose a threat. Federal health authorities have stated that pasteurized milk is safe, although reports of bird flu being found in pasteurized products have raised concerns.
The move is part of the USDA's "National Milk Testing Strategy," which builds on prior measures taken for a bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle first detected in March.
https://t.co/9dXCIbskbO— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) December 8, 2024
Experts like former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield have cautioned about the potential for the virus to spread to humans, particularly as a result of gain-of-function research. With the first human case of bird flu in the U.S. reported in September, the USDA’s initiative aims to prevent further escalation.
