Three high milk producing states in the United States are not part of a federal surveillance test for bird flu, even a new shape is joining dairy livestock, which some health experts say. There is a disturbing difference in the effort and detect the spread of the virus.
The US Department of Agriculture launched a voluntary milk testing program in December, after the virus was found Jumped the cattle In March 2024. The recent outbreak of the Avian influenza in the United States was first found in 2022, but during the last year it has taken steam, which eliminated poultry farms across the country, killing tens of millions of birds and eggs. Raise the price.
Although humans are at risk, many public and animal health experts believe that a wide, nationwide test of milk contains cases of viruses that cannot be detected otherwise, from which animals and humans I get more opportunities for different forms.
“Unless we have a strong surveillance system, it is incredibly difficult to control the disease of national importance,” said Dr. Fred Gangrich II, Executive Director of the American Association of Boen Practitioners.
“If we were checking every dairy, I don’t think you will have something to slip into the cracks.”
Still Texas, Wisconsin and Adho, Three of the country’s three five milk producing statesDo not participate in the voluntary federal testing program. And although efforts are underway to add them to the board, it is unclear when they will join, or how long it will take.
Was the first known case of bird flu in cattle in Texas, The first person who believes it is influenced by a staggerAnd a case in dairy cattle recently like December. But the state’s Agriculture Commissioner, Seed Miller, said that surveillance milk testing is unnecessary, as there are currently no active incidents of bird flu in the state’s commercial cattle or poultry.
“This is not a big deal, if you measure how many flocks are affected,” Miller said in an interview.
Milk testing for bird flu will be “just high, high cost, more monitoring. It is not necessary.
According to the USDA, a separate agency is working with the state’s animal health commission, federal officials to prepare a monitoring test for bird flu.
Just last week, the USDA announced that it had discovered a new tension in cattle, caught in Nevada Through the Federal Milk Testing Program.
Detect “is the proof of our strengthNational Milk Testing Strategy“The USDA told NBC News in a statement. The agency said last month They About three -quarters of the country’s milk production are being tested. Since then, more states have come to the board, now around 40. The purpose of the USDA is to register all 48 continent states.
A person has died and at least 68 people Has been infected According to the US centers of Disease Control and Prevention, since the beginning of 2024, often after close or prolonged contact with the affected animals.
Richard Webbie, an animal influenza specialist at St. Judge Children’s Research Hospital, said that milk testing is an important source to help monitor the disease specialist how the virus is developing, especially in the ways that the person It makes it easier to move into the person.
“We can know what are the changes that are happening in the virus that increase the human threat,” he said.
Effectively kills the bird flu found in milk, To present it safe to drinkAlthough farm workers are still in touch with raw milk and livestock that can be infected. More than 960 dairy flocks across the country have been affected so far, and the federal government Is required All lactating dairy cattle should be tested for bird flu Before moving In state letters.
This test is carried out by state and USDA officials, in which blood samples are used from bulk silao, where milk is collected from the fields before the processors sent to processors. Shipped, which pockets it and pack it. The USDA has a national network of labs for bird flu tests, and the federal program requires at least four testing rounds over six months, which follow up testing individual forms. I have to track any positive results. The agency also provides Free Test To individual farmers.
Wisconsin said he “continues to work” towards enrolling in the USDA’s testing program and is working with state and federal partners to monitor the bird’s flu promotion.
According to the USDA, Adho did not respond to the comments requests but is currently not participating in the program.
Health experts say that like many viruses, like many viruses, it can often be detected on test days, which allows farmers to take the virus, quarantine animals and tests to humans immediately. Can help do that which was potentially exposed.
“The more important time we have to identify where the virus is,” said Russia, a veterinary doctor in Colorado.
Russia added, “If we are blindfolded in a particular state, where we do not know what the status is, we can’t really say what the threat is.”
Even in states enrolled in the USDA program, the frequency of milk testing varies widely throughout the United States.
While the dairy cattle spread last year, in some states tests monthly, Colorado Is necessary All form to test weekly milk to help overcome this disease, which continues.
“This helps our poultry and milk industries sleep at night,” said Dr. Maggie Baldwin, state veterinarian of Colorado. “We know where it is and where it is.”
