November 29, 2024

 

Bulk testing of farm milk now required in Pennsylvania, US, as bird flu threat persists

 

 

The Department of Agriculture in Pennsylvania, the United States, will require bulk testing of dairy farm milk beginning on November 26, even as there have been no reported cases of avian flu in the state's cattle to date.

 

State officials said the mandate is meant to quickly identify any early cases of bird flu in cattle and prevent the spread of the virus to other local herds and poultry farms.

 

"By detecting it sooner, you can get a biosecurity plan in place, you can make sure you're not spreading it to other farms and you can also gear up to treat the cows who do get sick from the virus," said Jayne Sebright, executive director of the Center for Dairy Excellence.

 

Dairy is one of the largest sectors in Pennsylvania's agriculture industry with the production of more than 10.2 billion pounds of milk per year, according to state data.

 

Under the new testing mandate, milk samples will be taken from tanker trucks that collect and transport milk from local dairy farms to larger processing plants for pasteurisation. The milk samples will then be sent to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System.

 

If samples test positive for the virus, "it will trigger further investigation to identify the source" and "special quarantine measures will be established to contain and eliminate the virus at the source," state officials said in a press release.

 

"We've seen in other states that the virus shows up in milk before cows show clinical signs of illness," State Veterinarian Alex Hamberg said in a statement. "Rigorous biosecurity, including disinfecting [farmworkers'] boots, equipment, vehicles, and using footbaths at barn entryways is critical."

 

Most of the testing responsibilities will be carried out by tank shippers or processing plant companies. What individual dairy farmers can do, Sebright said, is to have a plan in place should their milk ever test positive for avian flu.

 

"They would have to demonstrate that they have a strong biosecurity plan in place to show how they are going to limit the spread," Sebright said. "And they would have to have that to get a permit to continue to move milk [to production]."

 

In efforts to prevent avian flu from infecting Pennsylvania cattle, the state also issued a quarantine order in April that requires dairy cattle to be tested when entering the state from elsewhere, especially areas with confirmed cases.

 

- WHYY