The USDA has announced a federal order requiring the national milk supply to be tested for bird flu in order to identify affected dairy herds and prevent transmission among livestock. This comes amid outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry and dairy cows, with 718 dairy herds affected in 15 states. The testing mandate will start on December 16 in six states. Dairy herd owners with positive cases must provide information for surveillance. The order builds on previous requirements for testing lactating dairy cows before interstate travel and reporting positive cases. This is a response to the rapid spread of bird flu among livestock and concerns about potential risks to human health. Despite warnings from the CDC, the sale of raw milk has increased in popularity. Commercial pasteurization has been shown to inactivate the virus, making milk safe for consumption. The CDC has confirmed 58 human cases of bird flu, most linked to exposure to infected animals. Symptoms have been mild, with some cases asymptomatic. Research suggests the virus spreads efficiently between mammals, potentially through raw milk. Concerns have been raised about the virus evolving to spread between humans, leading to a potential pandemic. A recent study published in Science found that a single mutation could increase the virus’s ability to spread among people.
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