US Food Safety Regulators Intensify Bird Flu Testing in Dairy Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is ramping up its testing of dairy products for avian influenza as outbreaks spread among dairy herds nationwide. Since March, more than 120 dairy herds across 12 states have tested positive for bird flu, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Federal officials have warned that further spread among dairy cows could elevate the risk of human infections.

While the risk to the general public remains low, it is higher for dairy farm workers, who are advised to wear personal protective equipment to mitigate the risk of infection.

The FDA’s enhanced testing efforts will include sampling 155 dairy products to ensure that pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus, stated Don Prater, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, during a call with reporters. Previous FDA testing of 297 retail dairy samples found no evidence of the virus.

The FDA continues to strongly recommend against the consumption of raw milk products. Eric Deeble, USDA’s acting senior adviser for its bird flu response, confirmed that no infected dairy herds are known to be contributing to the raw milk supply.

Monitoring efforts have included more than 690 individuals exposed to infected or suspected infected animals for flu symptoms. Of these, 51 people with flu-like symptoms have been tested, said Demetre Daskalakis, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Three dairy farm workers tested positive for the virus, displaying mild respiratory or conjunctivitis symptoms, and all have recovered.

The CDC is offering technical support to Michigan as it begins serological testing of farm workers for prior infection signs and will ensure similar testing can be conducted in other states, added Daskalakis.

The USDA is researching how dairy cattle contract the virus through contact with infected milk or respiratory droplets, according to Deeble. The development of a bird flu vaccine for dairy cows is underway, although it will take time. The USDA aims to eradicate the virus in dairy cattle without relying on a vaccine.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters on June 12 that the USDA is in discussions with two dozen companies about developing a bird flu vaccine for cattle.