By JONEL ALECCIA, Related Press
The U.S. authorities on Friday ordered testing of the nation’s milk provide for chook flu to raised monitor the unfold of the virus in dairy cows.
Uncooked or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide should be examined on request beginning Dec. 16, the Agriculture Division mentioned. Testing will start in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
Officers mentioned the transfer is aimed toward “containing and finally eliminating the virus,” generally known as Sort A H5N1, which was detected for the primary time in March in U.S. dairy cows. Since then, greater than 700 herds have been confirmed to be contaminated in 15 states.
“This may give farms and farmworkers higher confidence within the security of their animals and skill to guard themselves, and it’ll put us on a path to rapidly controlling and stopping the virus’ unfold nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack mentioned in an announcement.
The danger to folks from chook flu stays low, well being officers mentioned. Pasteurization, or warmth therapy, kills the virus in milk, leaving it protected to drink.
Veterinarians, farmers, scientists and lecturers have been calling for nationwide milk testing for months, mentioned Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who led the efforts.
“It’s one other step in the fitting path,” Poulsen mentioned. “They’re coming round that we’d like a greater deal with on it.”
Dairy farmers and processors throughout the U.S. have been reluctant to check animals or milk for the virus, fearing financial or different repercussions. Jamie Jonker, chief science officer of the Nationwide Milk Producers Federation, mentioned the trade helps USDA efforts to get rid of the virus.
Below the federal order, dairy farmers and people who deal with uncooked milk meant for pasteurization should present samples of the milk on request for testing for chook flu. It requires reporting of constructive assessments to the USDA and it requires herd house owners to offer primary info to permit tracing of the illness in cattle.
The transfer follows an April 24 federal order that mandated testing of sure dairy cattle earlier than they might transfer between states and required reporting of any constructive assessments. Regardless of that order, the virus has continued to unfold, Poulsen famous.
Uncooked milk from contaminated cows comprises excessive a great deal of reside virus, testing has proven.
A minimum of 58 folks within the U.S. have been contaminated with chook flu, largely farm employees who grew to become mildly in poor health after shut contact with contaminated cows, together with their milk, or contaminated poultry.
Chook flu has additionally been spreading amongst wild birds and quite a lot of different animals.
Federal officers proceed to warn towards consuming uncooked milk, which may include a bunch of germs that make folks sick. In California, officers quarantined a farm and halted distribution of milk after chook flu virus was detected in uncooked milk offered in shops. Uncooked Farm of Fresno issued a voluntary recall of uncooked milk and cream produced after Nov. 9.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely liable for all content material.
Initially Printed:
