US allows bulk testing of milk supplies for bird flu

The policy change comes as officials try to reduce economic damage to farmers

US farmers will be able to test bulk supplies of milk from their dairy cows for bird flu rather than milk from individual cows before gaining approval to ship them across state lines, the Agriculture Department said on May 30, in a move aimed at expanding testing.

The change shows how government officials are trying to contain the disease while minimising economic damage to farmers after the bird flu virus spread to cows and three dairy workers from late March. But some veterinarians warn that the bulk tests may be insufficient.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in late April began requiring lactating cows to test negative before being shipped across state lines. It later said the order likely helped prevent the spread of the virus to new states.

USDA reported 2,492 pre-movement tests as at May 29, but said that number does not equal the number of animals tested.

A pilot programme for bulk testing milk aims to ease the burden of pre-movement testing while reducing the spread of the virus, said Dr Eric Deeble, USDA's acting senior adviser for bird flu.

Farmers can start enrolling in it the week of June 3, he told reporters on a call that confirmed details of the programme.