LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday announced a new federal order requesting national milk supply be tested for bird flu.
The new order requires that raw milk samples nationwide be collected and shared with USDA for testing.
"This new guidance from USDA, which was developed with significant input from state, veterinary and public health stakeholders, will facilitate comprehensive H5N1 surveillance of the nation's milk supply and dairy herds," said the department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in a statement.
The new order makes three new requirements -- requesting the sharing of raw milk samples from any entity responsible for a dairy farm, bulk milk transporter, bulk milk transfer station, or dairy processing facility that sends or holds milk intended for pasteurization; requesting herd owners with positive cattle to provide epidemiological information that enables activities such as contact tracing and disease surveillance; and requiring that private laboratories and state veterinarians report positive results to USDA that come from tests done on raw milk samples.
The first round of silo testing under the new order is scheduled to begin in the week of Dec. 16, according to USDA.
"Since the first HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) detection in livestock, USDA has collaborated with our federal, state and industry partners to swiftly and diligently identify affected herds and respond accordingly. This new milk testing strategy will build on those steps to date and will provide a roadmap for states to protect the health of their dairy herds," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
