The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Monday that samples of milk collected from ill cattle in Kansas and Texas have tested positive for avian flu, but reassured the public that the nation’s milk supply remains safe. The detections in milk samples and a dairy cow highlight the broad impact of the virus, commonly known as bird flu, which has been observed in poultry flocks and mammals globally. Collaborating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the USDA is conducting investigations on dairy cows in Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico exhibiting symptoms such as reduced milk production and decreased appetite.
Clinical samples of unpasteurized milk from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas tested positive for highly pathogenic avian flu, along with a positive cattle swab test from another dairy in Texas. Initial findings suggest that wild birds, known carriers of the virus, introduced it to cattle in Texas. The USDA emphasized that the risk of human infection is low based on testing results. Measures are being taken to divert or dispose of milk from affected cows to prevent it from entering the food supply, as pasteurization is mandatory for milk intended for interstate commerce to eliminate bacteria and viruses like the flu.
The USDA assured that there is no current concern regarding the safety of commercial milk supply or consumer health risks, with no expected impact on milk prices or dairy product availability. U.S. dairy industry groups have urged importers not to impose bans or restrictions on U.S. dairy product shipments due to these detections, noting that importers have already limited purchases of U.S. poultry following the recent avian flu outbreak in 2022.