Wisconsin (Civic Media) – In early April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed detection of avian flu in a dairy herd in Idaho. On April 2nd, this was the 5th state to confirm positive test results. Positive test results have been confirmed in nine states as of April 27th. The states include Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina. Despite the high rate of transmission, experts say the milk supply is safe. The FDA reported on April 25th, that 1 in 5 retail samples test positive for HPAI viral fragments. These fragments do not seem able to reproduce the virus. The FDA states they are assessing any positive findings through egg inoculation tests. This is a gold-standard for determining if an infectious virus is present. So far, they have found no results that change their assessment on the safety of the commercial milk supply. 

What safety precautions are in place?

Experts are referring to the highly pathogenic avian influenza in cows as H5N1. The virus seems to be transmitting directly from cow to cow, but experts don’t know how yet. Only milk from healthy animals is authorized for distribution into interstate commerce for human consumption according to the FDA. Pasteurization has proven for decades to inactivate bacteria and viruses in milk, including the avian flu in eggs and the H5N1 virus in milk. The testing of cows for H5N1 is currently voluntary unless they are moving interstate. As of April 29, 2024, producers are now required to test lactating dairy cattle before transporting them across state lines. According to an article on Think Global Health, the USDA began paying for pre-movement testing of H5N1 in cows late in April, but significant funding gaps remain at the state and federal level.

Next steps

The CDC is recommending that people should avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals. People who have been exposed to birds infected with avian flu (HPAI) or H5N1 should monitor themselves for new respiratory illness symptoms. This includes conjunctivitis (eye redness). The only known case in the USA currently is a dairy worker who contracted H5N1 after working with cattle in Texas. His only known symptom was conjunctivitis and he has since recovered. The CDC is also recommending people don’t drink raw milk or eat raw cheeses until more data is available. You can see a full list of the recommendations here.

Links to your Representatives and The Kitchen’s Open

While this news may seem troubling, currently experts are saying the milk supply is safe and no shortage is expected. If you’re concerned about this, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local and state representatives. You can find your elected officials on the My Vote Wisconsin website, and also on the Wisconsin State Legislature website. Our team on Mornings with WFHR discussed this topic during the segment, The Kitchen’s Open on Monday, April 29th. You can hear that episode here with a little bit of comedy to lighten the subject.