The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a directive to test the country’s milk supply for H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, following the detection of the virus among dairy cattle earlier this year.

The announcement, made on Friday, underscores growing concerns over the potential public health risks posed by the outbreak.

“This testing strategy is a critical part of our ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of individuals and communities nationwide,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply. We continue to work closely with USDA and all stakeholders on continued testing for H5N1 in retail milk and dairy samples from across the country to ensure the safety of the commercial pasteurized milk supply.”

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Testing will begin on December 16 in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

These states were selected to help regulators identify infected dairy herds quickly. As of Friday, 718 dairy herds in 15 states had been impacted by the virus.

Since the bird flu outbreak began, 58 human cases have been confirmed in the United States, with the first reported case linked to dairy cows in April.

While it remains unclear whether H5N1 can spread between humans, scientists are closely monitoring the situation due to concerns that the virus could mutate, potentially leading to another pandemic.

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The USDA and HHS have emphasized that pasteurization effectively kills the H5N1 virus, ensuring the safety of commercially processed milk.

However, the rising popularity of raw milk consumption has sparked additional concerns.

Unlike pasteurized milk, raw milk is not heat-treated to eliminate harmful pathogens, increasing the risk of transmitting viruses like H5N1 if present.

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Last month, California health officials issued a broad recall of raw milk from a local dairy farm after detecting bird flu in multiple batches.

Although there have been no confirmed human cases linked to raw milk consumption, the recall highlighted the need for increased vigilance.

The USDA’s latest testing initiative aims to ensure that the U.S. milk supply remains safe and that infected dairy herds are identified and managed promptly.

Regulators are also working to educate the public about the risks associated with raw milk consumption in light of the bird flu outbreak.

The testing program is part of a broader strategy to address the spread of H5N1 in the United States.

Officials have pledged to continue monitoring and testing as long as necessary to protect public health and prevent further outbreaks.

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