The USDA has ordered milk testing across the country in response to the spread of bird flu. The virus, first detected in a Texas cow in March, has since affected 710 dairy herds in 15 states. California has reported the highest number of cases.
Milk samples will be collected at farms, during transportation, and at processing facilities. The program will begin in six states—California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania—before expanding nationwide.
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
“This testing is vital to protecting livestock and controlling the spread of the virus,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The USDA says the program will help states monitor affected herds and identify where the disease is spreading.
The outbreak has caused 58 human infections so far, including a child in the San Francisco Bay Area. California health officials recently discovered bird flu in raw milk from Raw Farm in Fresno, prompting a recall and quarantine of the farm’s products.
USDA demands national milk supply get tested for bird flu https://t.co/yazAjwAPcc
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 8, 2024
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
While federal authorities insist pasteurized milk is safe, concerns have arisen after isolated reports of bird flu in pasteurized products. Scientists caution that the virus in milk could pose risks to human health, though more research is needed.
Experts like former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield have warned that gain-of-function research could increase the risk of bird flu crossing to humans. The USDA’s testing mandate is seen as a critical step in managing the outbreak and protecting public health.
